2018/03/09 by Young Dae Yoon, Paul M. Bellan · 1 citation
Physics and Astronomy · #Ionosphere and magnetosphere dynamics #Magnetic confinement fusion research #Solar and Space Plasma Dynamics
paper · pdf · doi:10.1063/1.5016345
openalex publication_date 2018/03/09 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/30
An intuitive and physical two-fluid picture of spontaneous 2D collisionless magnetic reconnection and whistler wave generation is presented in the framework of 3D electron-magnetohydrodynamics. In this regime, canonical circulation (Q=me∇×u+qeB) flux tubes can be defined in analogy to magnetic flux tubes in ideal magnetohydrodynamics. Following the 3D behavior of these Q flux tubes provides a new perspective on collisionless reconnection—a perspective that has been hard to perceive via examinations of 2D projections. This shows that even in a 2D geometry with an ignorable coordinate, a 3D examination is essential for a full comprehension of the process. Intuitive answers are given to three main questions in collisionless reconnection: why is reconnection spontaneous, why do particles accelerate extremely fast, and why are whistler waves generated? Possible extensions to other regimes are discussed.