PHYSICS OF GASES, PLASMAS, AND ELECTRIC DISCHARGES

Generation of Electric Field and Net Charge in Hall Reconnection

and

2008 Chinese Physical Society and IOP Publishing Ltd
, , Citation Ma Zhi-Wei and Feng Shu-Ling 2008 Chinese Phys. Lett. 25 2934 DOI 10.1088/0256-307X/25/8/055

0256-307X/25/8/2934

Abstract

Generation of Hall electric field and net charge associated with magnetic reconnection is studied under different initial conditions of plasma density and magnetic field. With inclusion of the Hall effects, decoupling of the electron and ion motions leads to the formation of a narrow layer with strong electric field and large net charge density along the separatrix. The asymmetry of the plasma density or magnetic field or both across the current sheet will largely increase the magnitude of the electric field and net charge. The results indicate that the asymmetry of the magnetic field is more effective in producing larger electric field and charge density. The electric field and net charge are always much larger in the low density or/and high magnetic field side than those in the high density or/and low magnetic field side. Both the electric field and net charge density are linearly dependent on the ratios of the plasma density or the square of the magnetic field across the current sheet. For the case with both initial asymmetries of the magnetic field and density, rather large Hall electric field and charge density are generated.

Export citation and abstract BibTeX RIS

10.1088/0256-307X/25/8/055