Signatures of Secondary Collisionless Magnetic Reconnection Driven by Kink Instability of a Flux Rope

TL;DR

This study uses 3D Particle-in-Cell simulations to identify key kinetic signatures of secondary collisionless magnetic reconnection caused by kink instability in flux ropes, aiding detection in space and laboratory plasmas.

Contribution

It provides detailed kinetic signatures of secondary magnetic reconnection driven by kink instability, advancing understanding of reconnection processes in flux ropes.

Findings

Quadrupolar electron and ion density structures near reconnection regions

Bipolar Hall magnetic fields develop during reconnection

Turbulent reconnection regions with bipolar electric field structures

Abstract

The kinetic features of secondary magnetic reconnection in a single flux rope undergoing internal kink instability are studied by means of three-dimensional Particle-in-Cell simulations. Several signatures of secondary magnetic reconnection are identified in the plane perpendicular to the flux rope: a quadrupolar electron and ion density structure and a bipolar Hall magnetic field develop in proximity of the reconnection region. The most intense electric fields form perpendicularly to the local magnetic field, and a reconnection electric field is identified in the plane perpendicular to the flux rope. An electron current develops along the reconnection line in the opposite direction of the electron current supporting the flux rope magnetic field structure. Along the reconnection line, several bipolar structures of the electric field parallel to the magnetic field occur making the magnetic reconnection region turbulent. The reported signatures of secondary magnetic reconnection can help to localize magnetic reconnection events in space, astrophysical and fusion plasmas.