High-speed fluid dynamics in magnetic reconnection in a low-beta plasma

Abstract:

In the solar corona, in the magnetosphere, and in other astrophysical settings, magnetic reconnection often occurs in a low-beta plasma. Unfortunately, less is known about low-beta reconnection, partially due to lack of attention and partially due to numerical difficulties. In this contribution, we investigate the MHD structure of low-beta magnetic reconnection in unprecedented detail. Using a high-accuracy HLLD code, shocks, discontinuities, and their intersections are resolved and clarified. We argue that the new structures are outcome of high-speed fluid dynamics or compressible fluid dynamics, similarly as in aerospace engineering and in astrophysical jet physics. All these results are summarized in the 2015 edition of the "plasmoid diagram."

References

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2. S. Zenitani, Phys. Plasmas 22, 032114 (2015).