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Reconnection in two dimensions: Localization of vorticity and current near magnetic X‐points
Author(s) -
Matthaeus William H.
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/gl009i006p00660
Subject(s) - magnetic reconnection , vorticity , physics , current (fluid) , protein filament , kinetic energy , scale (ratio) , quadrupole , current sheet , statistical physics , computational physics , vortex , classical mechanics , mechanics , magnetic field , magnetohydrodynamics , quantum mechanics , biology , thermodynamics , genetics
Simulations of reconnection utilizing spectral methods show that the “reconnection zone” exhibits internal structure in the form of a current filament and a “quadrupole” of kinetic vorticity. A qualitative model of the dynamical role of these local structures is presented. It is suggested that the effect of small scale structures near the X‐point is to increase the rate of reconnection.