Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astrophysics – Solar and Stellar Astrophysics
Scientific paper
2009-01-13
A&A 493, 227-240 (2009)
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astrophysics
Solar and Stellar Astrophysics
14 pages, 16 figures
Scientific paper
10.1051/0004-6361:200810465
This paper extends the models of Craig & McClymont (1991) and McLaughlin & Hood (2004) to include finite $\beta$ and nonlinear effects. We investigate the nature of nonlinear fast magnetoacoustic waves about a 2D magnetic X-point. We solve the compressible and resistive MHD equations using a Lagrangian remap, shock capturing code (Arber et al. 2001) and consider an initial condition in $ {\bf{v}}\times{\bf{B}} \cdot {\hat{\bf{z}}}$ (a natural variable of the system). We observe the formation of both fast and slow oblique magnetic shocks. The nonlinear wave deforms the X-point into a 'cusp-like' point which in turn collapses to a current sheet. The system then evolves through a series of horizontal and vertical current sheets, with associated changes in connectivity, i.e. the system exhibits oscillatory reconnection. Our final state is non-potential (but in force balance) due to asymmetric heating from the shocks. Larger amplitudes in our initial condition correspond to larger values of the final current density left in the system. The inclusion of nonlinear terms introduces several new features to the system that were absent from the linear regime.
Brady C. S.
de Moortel Ineke
Hood Alan William
McLaughlin James A.
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