Fast reconnection of magnetic fields in a plasma
Abstract
The reconnection process of magnetic fields in a plasma is analytically studied by perturbing the boundary conditions on a slab of incompressible plasma with a resonant surface inside. It is found, for small resistivity, that the reconnection takes place on an Alfvén time scale and continues into a slow time scale t1=η1/3t. Both time scales are faster than the usual tearing time scale. Furthermore, the plasma evolves globally from its initial equilibrium on the slow time scale and settles down to a different final equilibrium.
- Publication:
-
Physics of Fluids
- Pub Date:
- August 1983
- DOI:
- 10.1063/1.864378
- Bibcode:
- 1983PhFl...26.2234H
- Keywords:
-
- Magnetic Field Configurations;
- Magnetohydrodynamic Stability;
- Plasma Slabs;
- Boundary Conditions;
- Boundary Value Problems;
- Electrical Resistivity;
- Incompressible Fluids;
- Magnetohydrodynamics;
- Tearing Modes (Plasmas);
- Plasma Physics