We study the relativistic generalizations of two-dimensional Sweet-Parker and Petschek reconnection models in the context of a relativistic pair plasma. The solutions show that if the outflow velocity from the resistive region approaches the relativistic Alfvén speed, the outflow density increase from Lorentz contraction allows a much faster inflow and thus a faster rate of magnetic energy dissipation than in the nonrelativistic regime. We briefly suggest applications of this result.

• Received 4 August 1993

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.72.494