Statistics – Applications
Scientific paper
Mar 2012
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2012aps..apr.s1031c&link_type=abstract
American Physical Society, APS April Meeting 2012, March 31-Apr 3, 2012, abstract #S1.031
Statistics
Applications
Scientific paper
Naturally occurring magnetic reconnection often begins in a spatially localized region and spreads in the out-of-plane direction in time. A number of authors have studied this problem for magnetotail applications such as substorms and bursty bulk flows, for which the out-of-plane (guide) field is typically small. However, spreading also occurs in laboratory experiments and two-ribbon solar flares (such as the Bastille Day flare), and is inferred to occur at the dayside magnetopause. The reconnection site in each of these settings is known or thought to have a significant guide field. With no guide field, it was shown that the reconnection spreading is controlled by the species that carries the current. However, laboratory experiments with a large guide field (Katz et al., Phys. Rev. Lett., 104, 255004, 2010) revealed that spreading takes place in both directions at the Alfven speed based on the guide field. This implies a qualitative change of behavior as the guide field varies. We present a scaling argument for the condition on the guide field at which the nature of the spreading switches from being caused by current carriers to Alfven waves. Further, we show results of three-dimensional two-fluid simulations that agree with the theory. We discuss applications to observations.
Cassak Paul
Shepherd Lucas
No associations
LandOfFree
Spreading of Magnetic Reconnection X-lines in Three Dimensions 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 Spreading of Magnetic Reconnection X-lines in Three Dimensions, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Spreading of Magnetic Reconnection X-lines in Three Dimensions will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1368182