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

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 B_G as occurring in space and laboratory plasmas. The reconnection rate is found to be not sensitive to the value of B_G/B_x0, where B_x0 is the asymptotic antiparallel field component. Dependence of the reconnection physics on the ion-to-electron mass ratio m_i/m_e, 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.