Physics
Scientific paper
Dec 2006
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2006agufmsh33b0407p&link_type=abstract
American Geophysical Union, Fall Meeting 2006, abstract #SH33B-0407
Physics
0654 Plasmas, 7519 Flares, 7524 Magnetic Fields, 7526 Magnetic Reconnection (2723, 7835), 7827 Kinetic And Mhd Theory
Scientific paper
The evolution of the magnetic field in the vicinity of a single isolated three-dimensional magnetic null point is discussed. While magnetic reconnection at separator lines joining two such nulls is thought to occur in many situations in the Earth's magnetosphere and the Solar corona, the importance of the nulls themselves is poorly understood. Reconnection at an isolated 3D null is also thought to be important in some solar flares, and is involved in models of magnetic breakout. We present numerical and analytical results on current sheet formation at such a 3D null. Under steady boundary driving the current sheet which forms at the null grows steadily in both intensity and dimensions, indicating that its nature is that of a Sweet-Parker current sheet. The qualitative and quantitative properties of the current sheet with respect to the driving parameters and plasma parameters are discussed. The nature of current sheet formation turns out to be strongly dependent on the compressibility of the plasma, which is highly relevant for comparing to earlier analytical models. Accompanying the current growth is the development of a component of the electric field parallel to the magnetic field, a signal of the breakdown of ideal MHD and of magnetic reconnection. This work is supported by the NSF and the DOE.
Bhattacharjee Anirban
Galsgaard Klaus
Pontin D. I.
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