Investigation of Magnetic Reconnection by Gyrokinetic Electron and Fully Kinetic Ion Particle Simulation

Xueyi Wang, Auburn University, Physics Department, Auburn, AL, United States, Yu Lin, Auburn University, Physics Department, Auburn, United States and Liu Chen, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
Abstract:
Magnetic reconnection associated with nonlinear evolution of magnetic islands is investigated using the gyrokinetic electron and fully-kinetic ion (GeFi) particle simulation model. The simulation is carried out in the 2-D space for cases with various finite guide field BG as occurring in space and laboratory plasmas. The reconnection rate is found to be not sensitive to the value of BG/Bx0, where Bx0 is the asymptotic antiparallel field component. Dependence of the reconnection physics on the ion-to-electron mass ratio mi/me, beta values, and the half-width of the current sheet are investigated. Ion and electron distributions and wave structures in the reconnection are studied. The simulation is then extended to include the 3-D effect. The results are compared with the Particle-in-cell (PIC) simulations with fully kinetic ions and electrons.
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