Particle-in-cell simulations of collisionless magnetic reconnection with a non-uniform guide field

F. Wilson, T. Neukirch, M. Hesse, M. G. Harrison, Craig R. Stark

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article

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Abstract

Results are presented of a first study of collisionless magnetic reconnection starting from a recently found exact nonlinear force-free Vlasov–Maxwell equilibrium. The initial state has a Harris sheet magnetic field profile in one direction and a non-uniform guide field in a second direction, resulting in a spatially constant magnetic field strength as well as a constant initial plasma density and plasma pressure. It is found that the reconnection process initially resembles guide field reconnection, but that a gradual transition to anti-parallel reconnection happens as the system evolves. The time evolution of a number of plasma parameters is investigated, and the results are compared with simulations starting from a Harris sheet equilibrium and a Harris sheet plus constant guide field equilibrium.
Original languageEnglish
Article number032302
Number of pages11
JournalPhysics of Plasma
Volume23
Issue number3
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2 Mar 2016

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cells
plasma pressure
simulation
magnetic fields
plasma density
field strength
profiles

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Wilson, F. ; Neukirch, T. ; Hesse, M. ; Harrison, M. G. ; Stark, Craig R. / Particle-in-cell simulations of collisionless magnetic reconnection with a non-uniform guide field. In: Physics of Plasma. 2016 ; Vol. 23, No. 3.
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Wilson, F, Neukirch, T, Hesse, M, Harrison, MG & Stark, CR 2016, 'Particle-in-cell simulations of collisionless magnetic reconnection with a non-uniform guide field', Physics of Plasma, vol. 23, no. 3, 032302. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4942939

Particle-in-cell simulations of collisionless magnetic reconnection with a non-uniform guide field. / Wilson, F.; Neukirch, T.; Hesse, M.; Harrison, M. G.; Stark, Craig R.

In: Physics of Plasma, Vol. 23, No. 3, 032302, 02.03.2016.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article

TY - JOUR

T1 - Particle-in-cell simulations of collisionless magnetic reconnection with a non-uniform guide field

AU - Wilson, F.

AU - Neukirch, T.

AU - Hesse, M.

AU - Harrison, M. G.

AU - Stark, Craig R.

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N2 - Results are presented of a first study of collisionless magnetic reconnection starting from a recently found exact nonlinear force-free Vlasov–Maxwell equilibrium. The initial state has a Harris sheet magnetic field profile in one direction and a non-uniform guide field in a second direction, resulting in a spatially constant magnetic field strength as well as a constant initial plasma density and plasma pressure. It is found that the reconnection process initially resembles guide field reconnection, but that a gradual transition to anti-parallel reconnection happens as the system evolves. The time evolution of a number of plasma parameters is investigated, and the results are compared with simulations starting from a Harris sheet equilibrium and a Harris sheet plus constant guide field equilibrium.

AB - Results are presented of a first study of collisionless magnetic reconnection starting from a recently found exact nonlinear force-free Vlasov–Maxwell equilibrium. The initial state has a Harris sheet magnetic field profile in one direction and a non-uniform guide field in a second direction, resulting in a spatially constant magnetic field strength as well as a constant initial plasma density and plasma pressure. It is found that the reconnection process initially resembles guide field reconnection, but that a gradual transition to anti-parallel reconnection happens as the system evolves. The time evolution of a number of plasma parameters is investigated, and the results are compared with simulations starting from a Harris sheet equilibrium and a Harris sheet plus constant guide field equilibrium.

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Wilson F, Neukirch T, Hesse M, Harrison MG, Stark CR. Particle-in-cell simulations of collisionless magnetic reconnection with a non-uniform guide field. Physics of Plasma. 2016 Mar 2;23(3). 032302. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4942939

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