The reconnection rate for the canonical simplest case of steady-state two-dimensional symmetric reconnection in an incompressible plasma is found by matching of an outer Petschek solution and an internal diffusion region solution. The reconnection rate obtained naturally incorporates both Sweet-Parker and Petschek regimes, while the latter is possible only for a strongly localized resistivity.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1455-1458
Number of pages4
JournalPhysical Review Letters
Volume84
Issue number7
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Jan 2000

    Scopus subject areas

  • Physics and Astronomy(all)

ID: 53087551