Separatrices: The crux of reconnection. (18th November 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Lapenta, Giovanni; Markidis, Stefano; Divin, Andrey; Newman, David; Goldman, Martin
• Is Part Of: Journal of plasma physics. Volume 81:Number 1(2015:Feb.)
• Publication Date: 2014-11-18
• Subjects: Plasma (Ionized gases) -- Periodicals; 530.4405
• DOI: 10.1017/S0022377814000944
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0022-3778

Abstract

Abstract : Magnetic reconnection is one of the key processes in astrophysical and laboratory plasmas: it is the opposite of a dynamo. Looking at energy, a dynamo transforms kinetic energy in magnetic energy while reconnection takes magnetic energy and returns it to its kinetic form. Most plasma processes at their core involve first storing magnetic energy accumulated over time and then releasing it suddenly. We focus here on this release. A key concept in analysing reconnection is that of the separatrix, a surface (line in 2D) that separates the fresh unperturbed plasma embedded in magnetic field lines not yet reconnected with the hotter exhaust embedded in reconnected field lines. In kinetic physics, the separatrices become a layer where many key processes develop. We present here new results relative to the processes at the separatrices that regulate the plasma flow, the energization of the species, the electromagnetic fields and the instabilities developing at the separatrices.