TY - JOUR

T1 - Effect of a snow plow in bursty magnetic reconnection

AU - Semenov, Vladimir S.

AU - Volkonskaya, Natalia N.

AU - Biernat, Helfried K.

PY - 1998/1/1

Y1 - 1998/1/1

N2 - This paper concentrates on aspects of magnetic field reconnection for a time-varying reconnection rate. There are a number of aspects of time-dependent reconnection that have no analogous behavior with the steady-state case. The localization of such time-varying features is of particular interest due to the fact that modeling is generally based on the steady-state case. In order to get optimal physical and mathematical insight, the most simple model is used: identical plasma and magnetic field behavior (except for the field orientation) on either side of the reconnection layer; furthermore the plasma is assumed to be incompressible. The primary interest is the distribution of different energy modes as a result of reconnection. Following a pulse of reconnection, propagating field reversal regions (FRRs) form. Inside these FRRs, the magnetic field energy is decreased, leading to accelerated plasma jets. As a result of the fast motion of the FRRs, there is an accumulation of magnetic energy external to their leading fronts (analogous to the snow accumulation in front of a moving snow plow), and a corresponding energy rarefaction in their wake regions.

AB - This paper concentrates on aspects of magnetic field reconnection for a time-varying reconnection rate. There are a number of aspects of time-dependent reconnection that have no analogous behavior with the steady-state case. The localization of such time-varying features is of particular interest due to the fact that modeling is generally based on the steady-state case. In order to get optimal physical and mathematical insight, the most simple model is used: identical plasma and magnetic field behavior (except for the field orientation) on either side of the reconnection layer; furthermore the plasma is assumed to be incompressible. The primary interest is the distribution of different energy modes as a result of reconnection. Following a pulse of reconnection, propagating field reversal regions (FRRs) form. Inside these FRRs, the magnetic field energy is decreased, leading to accelerated plasma jets. As a result of the fast motion of the FRRs, there is an accumulation of magnetic energy external to their leading fronts (analogous to the snow accumulation in front of a moving snow plow), and a corresponding energy rarefaction in their wake regions.

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=17344372697&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1063/1.872991

DO - 10.1063/1.872991

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:17344372697

VL - 5

SP - 3242

EP - 3248

JO - Physics of Plasmas

JF - Physics of Plasmas

SN - 1070-664X

IS - 9

ER -