Particle Acceleration Associated with Three-Dimensional Fan Magnetic Reconnection
Abstract
Particle acceleration associated with three-dimensional magnetic reconnection is discussed. Orbits of charged particles in the current sheet located in the fan of a magnetic null point are described analytically in both nonrelativistic and ultrarelativistic limits. An orbit instability effect is identified, which limits the acceleration times and kinetic energy gains in the reconnection-related electric field. The results are discussed using exact MHD solutions for fan reconnection, discovered by I.J.D. Craig and co-workers. The use of an analytical self-consistent MHD solution to derive the magnetic field configuration near the null point allows one to constrain local parameters in the magnetic reconnection region. As a consequence, simple conditions can be identified for effective particle acceleration in realistic reconnecting geometries. Applications to acceleration processes in solar flares are discussed.
- Publication:
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AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- December 2002
- Bibcode:
- 2002AGUFMSH52A0443L
- Keywords:
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- 7519 Flares;
- 7807 Charged particle motion and acceleration;
- 7835 Magnetic reconnection