2000/07/06 by Russell M. Kulsrud · 111 citations
Engineering · Physics and Astronomy · #Classical mechanics #Constant (computer programming) #Electrical resistivity and conductivity #Ionosphere and magnetosphere dynamics #Magnetic Field Sensors Techniques #Magnetic confinement fusion research #Magnetic field #Magnetic reconnection #Mechanics #Physics #Quantum mechanics #astro-ph
paper · pdf · doi:10.1186/bf03353251
published in Earth Planets and Space 53(6), 417-422 (Springer Nature) · 13 pages, 5 figures, 1 appendix (MR2000 proceedings)
arxiv created 2000/07/06 · openalex publication_date 2014/06/26 · arxiv updated 2015/06/24 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/05
The two theories for magnetic reconnection, one of Sweet and Parker, and the other of Petschek, are reconciled by exhibiting an extra condition in that of Petschek which reduces his theory to that of Sweet and Parker, provided that the resistivity is constant in space. On the other hand, if the resistivity is enhanced by instabilities, then the reconnection rate of both theories is increased substantially, but Petschek’s rate can be faster. A different formula from the usual one is presented for enhanced Petschek reconnection.