Skip to main content

Three-Dimensional Magnetic Reconnection In Astrophysical Plasmas — Mhd Approach

  • Conference paper
Plasma Astrophysics And Space Physics
  • 361 Accesses

Abstract

Magnetic reconnection is one of the fundamental macro processes in space and laboratory plasma systems. However, so far applications to large scale astrophysical plasmas are relatively few. This work attempts to shed some light on problems with respect to such applications. This particularly involves three-dimensional and turbulent or random occurrence of magnetic reconnection. A crucial question for reconnection in a very large scale system is the following. If reconnection is triggered in a single small region in a very extended current layer, how does it evolve in time? Does this region remain localized or does the reconnection region expand and if so, in what manner? To examine this problem we present results where reconnection is triggert in a single spot in an initially one-dimensional current layer.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 169.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 219.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 219.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  • Birk, G.T., and A. Otto, Reconnection in the upper auroral ionosphere, to appear in J. A. T. P., 1996.

    Google Scholar 

  • Birn, J., Computer studies of the dynamical evolution of the geomagnetic tail, J. Geophys. Res., 85, 1214, 1980.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Birn, J., and E.W. Hones, Jr., Three-dimensional computer modeling of dynamic reconnection in the geomagnetic tail, J. Geophys. Res., 86, 6802, 1981.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Dreher, J., G.T. Birk, K. Schindler, and A. Otto, The role of magnetic reconnection in Venus ionopause activity, J. Geophys. Res., 100, 14833, 1995.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Dungey, J.W. Interplanetary magnetic field and the auroral zones, Phys. Rev. Let., 6, 47, 1961.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Elphic, R.C., Observations of flux transfer events: Are FTEs flux ropes, islands, or surface waves?, in Geophys. Monogr. Ser., vol. 58, edited by C.T. Russell, E.R. Priest, and L.C. Lee, 455, AGU, Washington, D. C., 1990.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hesse, M., and K. Schindler, A theoretical foundation of general magnetic reconnection, J. Geophys. Res., 93, 5559, 1988.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Lee, L. C., A review of magnetic reconnection: MHD models, in Geophys. Monogr. Ser., vol. 90, ed. by Song, P., G. Le, and C.T. Russell, 139, AGU, Washington, D. C, 1995.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ma, Z.W., A. Otto, and L.C. Lee, Core magnetic field enhancement in single X line, multiple X line, and patchy reconnection, J. Geophys. Res., 99, 6125, 1994.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Otto, A., 3-D resistive MHD computations of magnetospheric physics, Comput. Phys. Commun., 59, 185, 1990.

    Article  ADS  MATH  Google Scholar 

  • Otto, A., Forced three-dimensional magnetic reconnection due to the linkage of magnetic flux tubes, J. Geophys. Res., 100, 11863, 1995.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Otto, A., and G.T. Birk, Formation of thin auroral arcs by current striation, Geophys. Res. Lett., 20, 2833, 1993.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Parker, E.N. Sweet’s mechanism for merging of magnetic fields in conducting fluids, J. Geophys. Res., 62, 509, 1957.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Petschek, H. G. Magnetic Annihilation, in AAS-NASA Symposium on the Physics of Solar Flares, ed. by W. N. Hess, p. 425, NASA Spec. Publ. SP-50, 1964.

    Google Scholar 

  • Priest, E., this volume, 1998.

    Google Scholar 

  • Russell, C.T., and R.C. Elphic, Initial ISEE magnetometer results: Magnetopause observations, Space Sci. Rev., 22, 681, 1978.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Sato T., and T. Hayashi, Externally driven magnetic reconnection and a powerful magnetic energy converter, Phys. Fluids, 22, 1189, 1979.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Schindler, K., Geophys. Astrophys. Fluid Dynamics, 92, 37, 1991.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Schindler, K., M. Hesse, and J. Birn, General magnetic reconnection: Parallel electric field and helicity, J. Geophys. Res., 93, 5547, 1988.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Sweet, P.A., The neutral point theory of solar flares, Proc. of the Intern. Astron. Union Symp. on Electromagnetic Phenomena, p. 123, Cambridge University Press, 1958.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1999 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht

About this paper

Cite this paper

Otto, A. (1999). Three-Dimensional Magnetic Reconnection In Astrophysical Plasmas — Mhd Approach. In: Büchner, J., Axford, I., Marsch, E., Vasyliūnas, V. (eds) Plasma Astrophysics And Space Physics. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-4203-8_3

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-4203-8_3

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-94-010-5828-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-011-4203-8

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics