Spontaneously generated flux ropes in 3-D magnetic reconnection
Shi-Chen Bai, Ruilong Guo, Yuchen Xiao, Quanqi Shi, Zhonghua Yao,, Zuyin Pu, Wei-jie Sun, Alexander W. Degeling, Anmin Tian, I. Jonathan Rae,, Shutao Yao, Qiu-Gang Zong, Suiyan Fu, Yude Bu, Christopher T. Russell, James, L. Burch, Daniel J. Gershman
TL;DR
This paper demonstrates that flux ropes in 3D magnetic reconnection can spontaneously form due to parallel electron flows, highlighting the role of electron dynamics beyond traditional instability mechanisms.
Contribution
It reveals a new mechanism for flux rope formation driven by electron flows, independent of secondary tearing mode instability.
Findings
Flux ropes can form spontaneously from electron flows.
Electron dynamics are crucial in 3D magnetic reconnection.
Flux ropes form in regions where traditional instabilities are suppressed.
Abstract
Magnetic reconnection is the key to explosive phenomena in the universe. The flux rope is crucial in three-dimensional magnetic reconnection theory and are commonly considered to be generated by secondary tearing mode instability. Here we show that the parallel electron flow moving toward the reconnection diffusion region can spontaneously form flux ropes. The electron flows form parallel current tubes in the separatrix region where the observational parameters suggest the tearing and Kelvin-Helmholtz instabilities are suppressed. The spontaneously formed flux ropes could indicate the importance of electron dynamics in a three-dimensional reconnection region.
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Taxonomy
TopicsMagnetic confinement fusion research · Plasma Diagnostics and Applications · Particle accelerators and beam dynamics