TY - JOUR

T1 - Asymptotic Solution for Field-Line Reconnexion. Compressible Case of Petschek's Model

AU - Semenov, V. S.

AU - Kubyshkin, I. V.

PY - 1983/10

Y1 - 1983/10

N2 - For the solution of Petschek's problem of field-line reconnexion, a new method is elaborated which is based on the introduction of a special co-ordinate system in which the streamlines and the magnetic lines of force become co-ordinates simultaneously. We have constructed the zero-order and the first-order approximation (for small Alfvén Mach numbers) for the solution of Petschek's problem in the steady-state, compressible, two-dimensional symmetric case. It is shown that the density across the slow shock wave increases by a factor (β = 8πρ0/B0 2,ϒ being the adiabatic exponent), and the plasma accelerates up to the Alfvén velocity. On the bases of the results obtained and of the analysis of numerical experiments on the reconnexion problem we draw the conclusion that during the initial phase of the process there develops a current sheet as described by Syrovatskii and that simultaneously there is a development of the tearing mode instability whose nonlinear phase creates the condition for the reconnexion process in the sense of Petschek.

AB - For the solution of Petschek's problem of field-line reconnexion, a new method is elaborated which is based on the introduction of a special co-ordinate system in which the streamlines and the magnetic lines of force become co-ordinates simultaneously. We have constructed the zero-order and the first-order approximation (for small Alfvén Mach numbers) for the solution of Petschek's problem in the steady-state, compressible, two-dimensional symmetric case. It is shown that the density across the slow shock wave increases by a factor (β = 8πρ0/B0 2,ϒ being the adiabatic exponent), and the plasma accelerates up to the Alfvén velocity. On the bases of the results obtained and of the analysis of numerical experiments on the reconnexion problem we draw the conclusion that during the initial phase of the process there develops a current sheet as described by Syrovatskii and that simultaneously there is a development of the tearing mode instability whose nonlinear phase creates the condition for the reconnexion process in the sense of Petschek.

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0020832689&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1017/S0022377800001203

DO - 10.1017/S0022377800001203

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:0020832689

VL - 30

SP - 303

EP - 320

JO - Journal of Plasma Physics

JF - Journal of Plasma Physics

SN - 0022-3778

IS - 2

ER -