Electron-scale reconnection in three-dimensional shock turbulence

TL;DR

This study uses particle-in-cell simulations to investigate three-dimensional magnetic reconnection in shock turbulence, revealing fast, transient reconnection with unique geometries not seen in two-dimensional models.

Contribution

It demonstrates the occurrence of fast, transient 3D reconnection in shock turbulence and highlights differences from 2D reconnection geometries.

Findings

Reconnection is fast and transient.

Weak guide field reconnection occurs in 3D.

Current sheets form nearly perpendicular to 2D cases.

Abstract

Magnetic reconnection has been observed in the transition region of quasi-parallel shocks. In this work, the particle-in-cell method is used to simulate three-dimensional reconnection in a quasi-parallel shock. The shock transition region is turbulent, leading to the formation of reconnecting current sheets with various orientations. Two reconnection sites with weak and strong guide fields are studied, and it is shown that reconnection is fast and transient. Reconnection sites are characterized using diagnostics including electron flows and magnetic flux transport. In contrast to two-dimensional simulations, weak guide field reconnection is realized. Furthermore, the current sheets in these events form in a direction almost perpendicular to those found in two-dimensional simulations, where the reconnection geometry is constrained.