Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astrophysics – Solar and Stellar Astrophysics
Scientific paper
2011-06-02
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astrophysics
Solar and Stellar Astrophysics
Submitted to ASP Conference Series
Scientific paper
Recently, secondary island formation due to the tearing instability of the Sweet-Parker current sheet was identified as a possible mechanism that can lead to fast reconnection (less sensitive dependence on Lundquist number $S$) both in numerical simulations using Particle-in-Cell (PIC) method [Daughton et al. 2009], as well as using resistive magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) [Lapenta 2008; Bhattacharjee et al. 2009]. This instability is thought to appear when $S$ is greater than a certain threshold. These recent results prompt us to perform more resistive MHD simulations of a basic reconnection configuration based on the island coalescence instability, using much higher resolutions and larger $S$. Our simulations are based on a fairly standard pseudo spectral code, which has been tested for accuracy, convergence, and compared well with codes using other methods [Ng et al. 2008]. In our simulations, formation of plasmoids were not found, except when insufficient resolution was used, or when a small amount of noise was added externally. The reconnection rate is found to follow the Sweet-Parker scaling when no noise is added, but increases to a level independent of $S$ with noise, when plasmoids form. Latest results with $S$ up to $2 \times 10^5$ will be presented.
Ng Chun Sum
Ragunathan S.
No associations
LandOfFree
High Lundquist Number Resistive MHD Simulations of Magnetic Reconnection: Searching for Secondary Island Formation does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.
If you have personal experience with High Lundquist Number Resistive MHD Simulations of Magnetic Reconnection: Searching for Secondary Island Formation, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and High Lundquist Number Resistive MHD Simulations of Magnetic Reconnection: Searching for Secondary Island Formation will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-222779