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Interaction of multiple magnetic islands in a long current sheet: Two‐fluid simulations
Author(s) -
Nakamura T. K. M.,
Fujimoto M.,
Sekiya H.
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1029/2009gl041858
Subject(s) - coalescence (physics) , magnetic reconnection , current sheet , physics , current (fluid) , line (geometry) , mechanics , geophysics , inertial frame of reference , magnetic field , magnetohydrodynamics , computational physics , classical mechanics , geometry , mathematics , quantum mechanics , astrobiology , thermodynamics
We have studied the magnetic island coalescence process in an open system with two‐fluid simulations including electron inertial effects. We have found that the two X‐lines at the lateral‐edges of a perturbed current sheet possess the intrinsic advantage to dominate and to create an inflating magnetic island between them. While this state will eventually be taken over by the well‐known single X‐line structure, the double X‐line state can be extended in time and is expected commonly in maturing stages of reconnection regions.