Relativistic Two-fluid Simulations of Guide Field Magnetic Reconnection

TL;DR

This paper uses two-dimensional relativistic two-fluid simulations to explore how guide fields influence magnetic reconnection, revealing charge separation, guide field compression, and energy composition changes in relativistic plasma environments.

Contribution

It introduces detailed relativistic two-fluid simulation results showing the effects of guide fields on magnetic reconnection, highlighting the importance of inertial effects and energy transfer mechanisms.

Findings

Charge separation occurs around the outflow channel.

Guide field compression is observed during reconnection.

Energy composition shifts from enthalpy to Poynting dominance with increasing guide field.

Abstract

The nonlinear evolution of relativistic magnetic reconnection in sheared magnetic configuration (with a guide field) is investigated by using two-dimensional relativistic two-fluid simulations. Relativistic guide field reconnection features the charge separation and the guide field compression in and around the outflow channel. As the guide field increases, the composition of the outgoing energy changes from enthalpy-dominated to Poynting-dominated. The inertial effects of the two-fluid model play an important role to sustain magnetic reconnection. Implications for the single fluid magnetohydrodynamic approach and the physics models of relativistic reconnection are briefly addressed.