Nonlinear Reconnection in Magnetized Turbulence

TL;DR

This paper investigates the conditions under which nonlinear magnetic reconnection occurs in magnetized turbulence, revealing a new turbulence regime dominated by reconnection-driven energy dissipation.

Contribution

It provides an analytical estimate of when tearing instability leads to full nonlinear reconnection in turbulent plasmas, introducing a novel turbulence regime.

Findings

Reconnection can dominate energy dissipation in certain turbulent regimes.

Conditions for full nonlinear reconnection are analytically estimated.

Reconnection-driven dissipation becomes prevalent under specific plasma parameters.

Abstract

Recent analytical works on strong magnetized plasma turbulence have hypothesized the existence of a range of scales where the tearing instability may govern the energy cascade. In this paper, we estimate the conditions under which such tearing may give rise to full nonlinear magnetic reconnection in the turbulent eddies, thereby enabling significant energy conversion and dissipation. When those conditions are met, a new turbulence regime is accessed where reconnection-driven energy dissipation becomes common, rather than the rare feature that it must be when they are not.