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Externally driven magnetic reconnection versus tearing mode instability
Author(s) -
Sato Tetsuya,
Hasegawa Akira
Publication year - 1982
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/gl009i001p00052
Subject(s) - magnetic reconnection , tearing , physics , instability , explosive material , resistive touchscreen , plasma , substorm , mechanics , mode (computer interface) , astrophysics , magnetosphere , chemistry , organic chemistry , quantum mechanics , computer science , electrical engineering , thermodynamics , engineering , operating system
Theoretical estimate as well as numerical simulations show that while a resistive tearing mode instability saturates at a low flow velocity, an externally driven reconnection, however weakly driven, brings a new nonlinear state with strong plasma jet which squeezes out tearing mode driven magnetic islands. This result suggests that the externally induced reconnection is the more likely candidate for explosive phenomena such as magnetospheric substorms and/or solar flares.