Breakup of the electron current layer during 3-D collisionless magnetic reconnection

1997 ◽  
Vol 24 (22) ◽  
pp. 2921-2924 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. F. Drake ◽  
D. Biskamp ◽  
A. Zeiler
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Reconnection ◽  
Current Layer ◽  
Electron Current

Evolution of electron current sheets in collisionless magnetic reconnection

2015 ◽  
Vol 22 (10) ◽  
pp. 102110 ◽  
Author(s):  
Neeraj Jain ◽  
A. Surjalal Sharma
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Reconnection ◽  
Electron Current ◽  
Current Sheets

scholarly journals Three-dimensional magnetic reconnection and its application to solar flares

2017 ◽  
Vol 83 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Miho Janvier
Keyword(s):  
Kinetic Energy ◽  
Numerical Simulations ◽  
Magnetic Reconnection ◽  
Solar Flares ◽  
Magnetic Energy ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Three Dimensions ◽  
Current Layer ◽  
Solar Observations ◽  
The Universe

Solar flares are powerful radiations occurring in the Sun’s atmosphere. They are powered by magnetic reconnection, a phenomenon that can convert magnetic energy into other forms of energy such as heat and kinetic energy, and which is believed to be ubiquitous in the universe. With the ever increasing spatial and temporal resolutions of solar observations, as well as numerical simulations benefiting from increasing computer power, we can now probe into the nature and the characteristics of magnetic reconnection in three dimensions to better understand the phenomenon’s consequences during eruptive flares in our star’s atmosphere. We review in the following the efforts made on different fronts to approach the problem of magnetic reconnection. In particular, we will see how understanding the magnetic topology in three dimensions helps in locating the most probable regions for reconnection to occur, how the current layer evolves in three dimensions and how reconnection leads to the formation of flux ropes, plasmoids and flaring loops.

Sausage instabilities in the electron current layer and its role in the concept of fast ignition

2003 ◽  
Vol 44 (1) ◽  
pp. 98-105 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amita Das ◽  
Neeraj Jain ◽  
Predhiman Kaw ◽  
Sudip Sengupta
Keyword(s):  
Fast Ignition ◽  
Current Layer ◽  
Electron Current

scholarly journals Cluster observations of the high-latitude magnetopause and cusp: initial results from the CIS ion instruments

2001 ◽  
Vol 19 (10/12) ◽  
pp. 1545-1566 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. M. Bosqued ◽  
T. D. Phan ◽  
I. Dandouras ◽  
C. P. Escoubet ◽  
H. Rème ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Reconnection ◽  
Boundary Layers ◽  
High Latitude ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Distribution Functions ◽  
Current Layer ◽  
Transfer Event ◽  
Normal Speed ◽  
Field Lines ◽  
The Imf

Abstract. Launched on an elliptical high inclination orbit (apogee: 19.6 RE) since January 2001 the Cluster satellites have been conducting the first detailed three-dimensional studies of the high-latitude dayside magnetosphere, including the exterior cusp, neighbouring boundary layers and magnetopause regions. Cluster satellites carry the CIS ion spectrometers that provide high-precision, 3D distributions of low-energy (<35 keV/e) ions every 4 s. This paper presents the first two observations of the cusp and/or magnetopause behaviour made under different interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) conditions. Flow directions, 3D distribution functions, density profiles and ion composition profiles are analyzed to demonstrate the high variability of high-latitude regions. In the first crossing analyzed (26 January 2001, dusk side, IMF-BZ < 0), multiple, isolated boundary layer, magnetopause and magnetosheath encounters clearly occurred on a quasi-steady basis for ~ 2 hours. CIS ion instruments show systematic accelerated flows in the current layer and adjacent boundary layers on the Earthward side of the magnetopause. Multi-point analysis of the magnetopause, combining magnetic and plasma data from the four Cluster spacecraft, demonstrates that oscillatory outward-inward motions occur with a normal speed of the order of ± 40 km/s; the thickness of the high-latitude current layer is evaluated to be of the order of 900–1000 km. Alfvénic accelerated flows and D-shaped distributions are convincing signatures of a magnetic reconnection occurring equatorward of the Cluster satellites. Moreover, the internal magnetic and plasma structure of a flux transfer event (FTE) is analyzed in detail; its size along the magnetopause surface is ~ 12 000 km and it convects with a velocity of ~ 200 km/s. The second event analyzed (2 February 2001) corresponds to the first Cluster pass within the cusp when the IMF-BZ component was northward directed. The analysis of relevant CIS plasma data shows temporal cusp structures displaying a reverse energy-latitude "saw tooth" dispersion, typical for a bursty reconnection between the IMF and the lobe field lines. The observation of D-shaped distributions indicates that the Cluster satellites were located just a few RE from the reconnection site.Key words. Magnetospheric physics (magnetopause, cusp, and boundary layers; magnetosheath) Space plasma physics (magnetic reconnection)

scholarly journals Collisionless reconnection: mechanism of self-ignition in thin plane homogeneous current sheets

2010 ◽  
Vol 28 (10) ◽  
pp. 1935-1943 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. A. Treumann ◽  
R. Nakamura ◽  
W. Baumjohann
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Field ◽  
Magnetic Reconnection ◽  
Current Layer ◽  
Current Sheets ◽  
Thermal Anisotropy ◽  
Collisionless Reconnection ◽  
Magnetic Electron ◽  
Spontaneous Onset

Abstract. The spontaneous onset of magnetic reconnection in thin plane collisionless current sheets is shown to result from a thermal-anisotropy driven non-relativistic magnetic electron Weibel-mode, generating seed-magnetic field X-points in the centre of the current layer. The proposed mechanism is of larger generality. It also works in the presence of magnetic guide fields.

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