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Scaling of asymmetric magnetic reconnection: General theory and collisional simulations

Phys. Plasmas 14, 102114 (2007); doi:10.1063/1.2795630

Published 31 October 2007

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P. A. Cassak and M. A. Shay
Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware 19716, USA
A Sweet-Parker-type scaling analysis for asymmetric antiparallel reconnection (in which the reconnecting magnetic field strengths and plasma densities are different on opposite sides of the dissipation region) is performed. Scaling laws for the reconnection rate, outflow speed, the density of the outflow, and the structure of the dissipation region are derived from first principles. These results are independent of the dissipation mechanism. It is shown that a generic feature of asymmetric reconnection is that the X-line and stagnation point are not colocated, leading to a bulk flow of plasma across the X-line. The scaling laws are verified using two-dimensional resistive magnetohydrodynamics numerical simulations for the special case of asymmetric magnetic fields with symmetric density. Observational signatures and applications to reconnection in the magnetosphere are discussed. ©2007 American Institute of Physics
History: Received 10 July 2007; accepted 19 September 2007; published 31 October 2007
Permalink: http://link.aip.org/link/?PHPAEN/14/102114/1
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EDITORIALLY RELATED

  1. Comment on “Scaling of asymmetric magnetic reconnection: General theory and collisional simulations” [Phys. Plasmas 14, 102114 (2007)]
    V. S. Semenov et al.
    Phys. Plasmas 16, 034701 (2009)
  2. Response to “Comment on `Scaling of asymmetric magnetic reconnection: General theory and collisional simulations' ” [Phys. Plasmas 16, 034701 (2009)]
    P. A. Cassak et al.
    Phys. Plasmas 16, 034702 (2009)

KEYWORDS and PACS

Keywords
PACS
  • 52.30.Cv
    Plasma magnetohydrodynamics including electron magnetohydrodynamics
  • 52.20.-j
    Elementary processes in plasma
  • 52.25.-b
    Plasma properties
  • 52.65.Kj
    Magnetohydrodynamic and fluid equation (plasma simulation)
  • 94.30.cp
    Magnetic reconnection
  • YEAR: 2007

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PUBLICATION DATA

ISSN:
1070-664X (print)   1089-7674 (online)
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