Laboratory Study of Magnetic Reconnection in 3D Geometry Relevant to Magnetopause and Magnetotail

Abstract:

Laboratory Study of Magnetic Reconnection in 3D Geometry Relevant to Magnetopause and Magnetotail

 

Y. Ren^1,2, Quaming Lu³, Hantao Ji^1,2, Aohua Mao¹, Xiaogang Wang¹, Peng E¹, Zhibin Wang¹, Qingmei Xiao¹, Weixing Ding⁴, Jinxing Zheng⁵

¹ Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, China

² Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08543

³University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China

⁴University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095

⁵ASIPP, Hefei, China

 

A new magnetic reconnection experiment, Harbin reconnection eXperiment (HRX), is currently being designed as a key part of Space Plasma Environment Research Facility (SPERF) at Harbin Institute of Technology in Harbin, China. HRX aims to provide a unique experimental platform for studying reconnections in 3D geometry relevant to magnetopause and magnetotail to address: the role of electron and ion-scale dynamics in the current sheet; particle and energy transfer from magnetosheath to magnetosphere; particle energization/heating mechanisms during magnetic reconnection; 3D effects in fast reconnection, e.g. the role of 3D magnetic null point. HRX employs a unique set of coils to generate the required 3D magnetic geometry and provides a wide range of plasma parameters. Here, important motivating scientific problems are reviewed and the physics design of HRX is presented, including plasma parameters determined from Vlasov scaling law, reconnection scenarios explored using vacuum magnetic field calculations and numerical simulations of HRX using hybrid and MHD codes. Plasma diagnostics plan and engineering design of important coils will also be briefly presented.