Processes involving magnetic-field reconnection in collisionless plasmas and relying on the effects of electron Landau resonance for their excitation are found to require the consideration of the self-consistent electric potentials and the systematic analysis of four consecutive asymptotic regions. The new effects found are relevant to both laboratory and space plasmas.

• Received 3 October 1978

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.42.1058