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Author(s):
M. Tanaka
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Title:
A Mechanism of Collisionless Magnetic Reconnection
Date of publication:
Mar. 1994
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Key words:
Magnetic reconnection, anomalous dissipation, electron inertia, implicit particle simulation
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Abstract:
Forced reconnection in a collisionless magnetized plasma is studied using an implicit particle simulation. A coalescence of magnetic islands induces the electric field E_t at the x-point via the displacement current. A quasi-steady reconnection is achieved with E_t ne 0, the poloidal electric field E_p generated by electrostatic shielding, and the current J_t continuously removed via the E_p x B plasma convection. Transit acceleration of electrons by unshielded parallel electric field E_parallel nearly equal E_t at the x-point yields the Ohm's law E_t nearly equal eta_eqJ_t with eta_eq the inertia (kinetic) resistivity.
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