Physics – Plasma Physics
Scientific paper
Dec 2009
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2009agufmsm21a1558d&link_type=abstract
American Geophysical Union, Fall Meeting 2009, abstract #SM21A-1558
Physics
Plasma Physics
[2723] Magnetospheric Physics / Magnetic Reconnection, [2772] Magnetospheric Physics / Plasma Waves And Instabilities, [7835] Space Plasma Physics / Magnetic Reconnection
Scientific paper
In recent years, large-scale 2D kinetic simulations of magnetic reconnection have lead to a number of surprises in comparison to reduced models. In particular, the kinetic simulations feature highly elongated electron layers that are generally unstable to plasmoid formation for both strong and weak guide field limits. These results have raised many new questions regarding the 3D stability and dynamical evolution of reconnection layers. To address this challenging issue, we combine two recent innovations. First, the kinetic particle-in-cell code VPIC was recently ported to Roadrunner, the world's first petaflop supercomputer based on a novel hybrid architecture. In addition, open boundary conditions are employed to eliminate artificial re-circulation effects and more effectively examine the 3D dynamics over longer time scales. The initial petascale simulations from the Roadrunner open science campaign illustrate a rich variety of 3D processes including the nonlinear evolution of the lower-hybrid drift instability, kinking and plasmoid (flux-rope) formation within the electron layer, streaming and shear-driven instabilities along the separatrices. Understanding the implications of these various waves and instabilities for different aspects of the reconnection problem (dissipation rate, particle acceleration, etc.) remains a considerable challenge. However, these new results already offer a wealth of new observational signatures that may be useful for better understanding and interpreting satellite observations. In this presentation, we will highlight the new results with particular focus on wave characteristics. Preliminary comparison with observations using Polar, Cluster, and THEMIS will be discussed.
Albright Brian James
Bowers Kevin
Cattell Cynthia A.
Daughton W. S.
Karimabadi Homa
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