A catastrophe model for fast magnetic reconnection onset
Plasma Physics
2007-05-23 v2
Abstract
A catastrophe model for the onset of fast magnetic reconnection is presented that suggests why plasma systems with magnetic free energy remain apparently stable for long times and then suddenly release their energy. For a given set of plasma parameters there are generally two stable reconnection solutions: a slow (Sweet-Parker) solution and a fast (Alfv\'enic) Hall reconnection solution. Below a critical resistivity the slow solution disappears and fast reconnection dominates. Scaling arguments predicting the two solutions and the critical resistivity are confirmed with two-fluid simulations.
Cite
@article{arxiv.physics/0502001,
title = {A catastrophe model for fast magnetic reconnection onset},
author = {P. A. Cassak and M. A. Shay and J. F. Drake},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:physics/0502001},
year = {2007}
}
Comments
10 pages, 4 figures, submitted to Phys. Rev. Lett., Content changed, figure added