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arXiv · 1101.2255

Magnetohydrodynamic structure of a plasmoid in fast reconnection in low-beta plasmas

Seiji Zenitani·Takahiro Miyoshi
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Abstract

Plasmoid structures in fast reconnection in low-beta plasmas are investigated by two-dimensional magnetohydrodynamic simulations. A high-resolution shock-capturing code enables us to explore a variety of shock structures: vertical slow shocks behind the plasmoid, another slow shocks in the outer-region, and the shock-reflection in the front side. The Kelvin-Helmholtz-like turbulence is also found inside the plasmoid. It is concluded that these shocks are rigorous features in reconnection in low-beta plasmas, where the reconnection jet speed or the upstream Alfven speed exceeds the sound speed.

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Seiji Zenitani, Takahiro Miyoshi. 2014-10-13. Magnetohydrodynamic structure of a plasmoid in fast reconnection in low-beta plasmas. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.3554655

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