28 research outputs found
A Numerical Simulation of the Reconnection Layer in 2D Resistive MHD
In this paper we present a two-dimensional, time dependent, numerical
simulation of a reconnection current layer in incompressible resistive
magnetohydrodynamics with uniform resistivity in the limit of very large
Lundquist numbers. We use realistic boundary conditions derived consistently
from the outside magnetic field, and we also take into account the effect of
the back pressure from flow into the the separatrix region. We find that within
a few Alfven times the system evolves from an arbitrary initial state to a
steady state consistent with the Sweet--Parker model, even if the initial state
is Petschek-like.Comment: 33 pages, 17 figure
Magnetic reconnection with anomalous resistivity in two-and-a-half dimensions I: Quasi-stationary case
In this paper quasi-stationary, two-and-a-half-dimensional magnetic
reconnection is studied in the framework of incompressible resistive
magnetohydrodynamics (MHD). A new theoretical approach for calculation of the
reconnection rate is presented. This approach is based on local analytical
derivations in a thin reconnection layer, and it is applicable to the case when
resistivity is anomalous and is an arbitrary function of the electric current
and the spatial coordinates. It is found that a quasi-stationary reconnection
rate is fully determined by a particular functional form of the anomalous
resistivity and by the local configuration of the magnetic field just outside
the reconnection layer. It is also found that in the special case of constant
resistivity reconnection is Sweet-Parker and not Petschek.Comment: 15 pages, 4 figures, minor changes as compared to the 1st versio
On the two-dimensional magnetic reconnection with nonuniform resistivity
In this paper two theoretical approaches for the calculation of the rate of
quasi-stationary, two-dimensional magnetic reconnection with nonuniform
anomalous resistivity are considered in the framework of incompressible
magnetohydrodynamics (MHD). In the first, ``global'' equations approach the MHD
equations are approximately solved for a whole reconnection layer, including
the upstream and downstream regions and the layer center. In the second,
``local'' equations approach the equations are solved across the reconnection
layer, including only the upstream region and the layer center. Both approaches
give the same approximate answer for the reconnection rate. Our theoretical
model is in agreement with the results of recent simulations of reconnection
with spatially nonuniform resistivity by Baty, Priest and Forbes (2006),
contrary to their conclusions.Comment: 7 pages, 1 figur
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Cold Fusion Catalyzed by Muons and Electrons
Two alternative methods have been suggested to produce fusion power at low temperature. The first, muon catalyzed fusion or MCF, uses muons to spontaneously catalyze fusion through the muon mesomolecule formation. Unfortunately, this method fails to generate enough fusion energy to supply the muons, by a factor of about ten. The physics of MCF is discussed, and a possible approach to increasing the number of MCF fusions generated by each muon is mentioned. The second method, which has become known as Cold Fusion,'' involves catalysis by electrons in electrolytic cells. The physics of this process, if it exists, is more mysterious than MCF. However, it now appears to be an artifact, the claims for its reality resting largely on experimental errors occurring in rather delicate experiments. However, a very low level of such fusion claimed by Jones may be real. Experiments in cold fusion will also be discussed
Magnetic reconnection with Sweet-Parker characteristics in two-dimensional laboratory plasmas
Magnetic reconnection has been experimentally studied in a well-controlled, two-dimensional laboratory magnetohydrodynamic plasma. The observations are found to be both qualitatively and quantitatively consistent with a generalized Sweet-Parker model which incorporates compressibility, downstream pressure, and the effective resistivity. The latter is significantly enhanced over its classical values in the collisionless limit. This generalized Sweet-Parker model also applies to the case in which an unidirectional, sizable third magnetic component is present
On the viscous boundary layer near the center of the resistive reconnection region
This paper studies the behavior of the magnetic field near the center of the reconnection layer in the framework of two-dimensional incompressible resistive magnetohydrodynamics with uniform resistivity in a steady state. Priest and Cowley have presented an argument [1] showing that when the viscosity is zero, the magnetic separatrices do not cross at a finite angle but osculate at the X-point. In the present paper, it is shown that this conclusion is in fact not correct. First, some results of numerical simulations of the reconnection layer are presented. These results contradict the conclusions of Priest and Cowley. In order to explain this contradiction, an analytical theory for the neighborhood of the X-point is developed in the second part of the paper. It is found that, if the viscosity is exactly equal to zero, then one of the critical assumptions of the above mentioned argument, namely the assumption that the stream function can be Taylor-expanded near the X-point, breaks down. In the case of small but finite viscosity, a boundary layer analysis in the vicinity of the neutral point is carried out. Some of the higher derivatives of the stream function become very large near the X-point, leading to a non-zero angle between the separatrices. As viscosity goes to zero, the boundary layer shrinks and one can see the emergence of the non-analytic logarithmic terms in the expansion of the stream function in the outer region. The results of the boundary layer analysis are found to be in good agreement with the numerical simulations
Magnetized Turbulent Dynamo in Protogalaxies
The prevailing theory for the origin of cosmic magnetic fields is that they
have been amplified to their present values by the turbulent dynamo inductive
action in the protogalactic and galactic medium. Up to now, in calculation of
the turbulent dynamo, it has been customary to assume that there is no back
reaction of the magnetic field on the turbulence, as long as the magnetic
energy is less than the turbulent kinetic energy. This assumption leads to the
kinematic dynamo theory. However, the applicability of this theory to
protogalaxies is rather limited. The reason is that in protogalaxies the
temperature is very high, and the viscosity is dominated by magnetized ions. As
the magnetic field strength grows in time, the ion cyclotron time becomes
shorter than the ion collision time, and the plasma becomes strongly
magnetized. As a result, the ion viscosity becomes the Braginskii viscosity.
Thus, in protogalaxies the back reaction sets in much earlier, at field
strengths much lower than those which correspond to field-turbulence energy
equipartition, and the turbulent dynamo becomes what we call the magnetized
turbulent dynamo. In this paper we lay the theoretical groundwork for the
magnetized turbulent dynamo. In particular, we predict that the magnetic energy
growth rate in the magnetized dynamo theory is up to ten time larger than that
in the kinematic dynamo theory. We also briefly discuss how the Braginskii
viscosity can aid the development of the inverse cascade of magnetic energy
after the energy equipartition is reached.Comment: accepted to ApJ, 35 pages, 3 figure
On the Origin of Cosmic Magnetic Fields
We review the literature concerning how the cosmic magnetic fields pervading
nearly all galaxies actually got started. some observational evidence involves
the chemical abundance of the light elements Be and B, while another one is
based on strong magnetic fields seen in high red shift galaxies. Seed fields,
whose strength is of order 10^{-20} gauss, easily sprung up in the era
preceding galaxy formation. Several mechanisms are proposed to amplify these
seed fields to microgauss strengths. The standard mechanism is the Alpha-Omega
dynamo theory. It has a major difficulty that makes unlikely to provide the
sole origin. The difficulty is rooted in the fact that the total flux is
constant. This implies that flux must be removed from the galactic discs. This
requires that the field and flux be separated, for otherwise interstellar mass
must be removed from the deep galactic gravitational and then their strength
increased by the alpha omega theory.Comment: 90 pages and 6 figures; accepted for publication in Reports of
Progress in Physics as an invited revie