English

Simulation of Fast Magnetic Reconnection using a Two-Fluid Model of Collisionless Pair Plasma without Anomalous Resistivity

Plasma Physics 2010-10-04 v1 Numerical Analysis

Abstract

For the first time to our knowledge, we demonstrate fast magnetic reconnection near a magnetic null point in a fluid model of collisionless pair plasma without resorting to the contrivance of anomalous resistivity. In particular, we demonstrate that fast reconnection occurs in an anisotropic adiabatic two-fluid model of collisionless pair plasma with relaxation toward isotropy for a broad range of isotropization rates. For very rapid isotropization we see fast reconnection, but instabilities eventually arise that cause numerical error and cast doubt on the simulated behavior.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.1010.0222,
  title  = {Simulation of Fast Magnetic Reconnection using a Two-Fluid Model of Collisionless Pair Plasma without Anomalous Resistivity},
  author = {E. Alec Johnson and James A. Rossmanith},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:1010.0222},
  year   = {2010}
}