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Fundamental Concepts Associated with Magnetic Reconnection

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Magnetic Reconnection

Part of the book series: Astrophysics and Space Science Library ((ASSL,volume 427))

Abstract

The chapter starts with a discussion about the importance of the concept of magnetic field lines in space plasmas and magnetic reconnection, followed by presentations on: (a) the meaning and validity of empirical constructs related with magnetic reconnection research, such as: “moving” magnetic field lines, “frozen-in” condition and “diffusion region” of reconnection; and (b) experimental evidence of the diffusion region and related energetics. Next, aims to link external (MHD) with internal (non-MHD) regions of reconnection are discussed in association with the so-called “Axford conjecture”, followed by short presentations on: (a) global equilibria in reconnection; and (b) the role of the separatrices in global aspects of reconnection. In the last section, we present additional discussion about the concept of “diffusion region” and about the two fundamental questions associated with magnetic reconnection reviewed in this chapter.

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Acknowledgements

W.D. Gonzalez would like to thank the “Conselho Nacional de Pesquisas, CNPq” of Brazil for support, through the Project PQ-303329/2011-4. D.K. would like to thank CAPES for support.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. National Institute for Space Research (INPE), São José dos Campos, São Paulo, 12227-010, Brazil

    W. D. Gonzalez & D. Koga

  2. Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60637, USA

    E. N. Parker

  3. Space Sciences Laboratory, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA

    F. S. Mozer

  4. Max-Planck-Institut für Sonnensystemforschung, Göttingen, 37077, Germany

    V. M. Vasyliūnas

  5. Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, 90095-1547, USA

    P. L. Pritchett

  6. SciberQuest, Inc., Del Mar, CA, 92014, USA

    H. Karimabadi

  7. CureMetrix, Inc., Rancho Santa Fe, CA, 92067, USA

    H. Karimabadi

  8. Department of Physics and Astronomy, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, 26506, USA

    P. A. Cassak

  9. Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, 52242, USA

    J. D. Scudder

  10. Center for Magnetic Self-Organization, Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, 08544, USA

    M. Yamada & R. M. Kulsrud

Authors
  1. W. D. Gonzalez
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  2. E. N. Parker
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  3. F. S. Mozer
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  4. V. M. Vasyliūnas
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  5. P. L. Pritchett
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  6. H. Karimabadi
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  7. P. A. Cassak
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  8. J. D. Scudder
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  9. M. Yamada
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  10. R. M. Kulsrud
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  11. D. Koga
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to W. D. Gonzalez .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. INPE, São José dos Campos, Brazil

    Walter Gonzalez

  2. University of Chicago, CHICAGO, Illinois, USA

    Eugene Parker

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© 2016 Springer International Publishing Switzerland

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Gonzalez, W.D. et al. (2016). Fundamental Concepts Associated with Magnetic Reconnection. In: Gonzalez, W., Parker, E. (eds) Magnetic Reconnection. Astrophysics and Space Science Library, vol 427. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-26432-5_1

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