Abstract
The third order accurate upwind compact difference scheme has been applied to the numerical study of the magnetic reconnection process possibly occurring near the interplanetary current sheet, under the framework of the two-dimensional compressible magnetohydrodynamics (MHD). Our results here show that the driven reconnection near the current sheet can occur within 10–30 min for the interplanetary high magnetic Reynolds number,R M =2 000– 10 000, the stable magnetic reconnection structure can be formed in hour-order of magnitude, and there are some basic properties such as the multiple X-line reconnections, vortical velocity structures, filament current systems, splitting and collapse of the high-density plasma bulk. These results are helpful in understanding and identifying the magnetic reconnection phenomena near the interplanetary current sheets.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Hones, Jr. E. W., Magnetic reconnection in laboratory plasma, Geophysical Monograph (ed. Hones, E. W. Jr.), 1984, 30: 1.
Axford, W. I., Magnetic field reconnection magnetic reconnection in space and laboratory plasmas, Geophysical Monograph (ed. Hones, E. W. Jr.), 1984, 30: 1.
Cowley, S. W. H., Magnetic Reconnection, Solar System Magnetic Fields (ed. Priest, E. R.), Dordrecht, Holland: D. Reidel Publishing Company, 1985, 121–155.
Lee, L. C., A review of magnetic reconnection: MHD models, physics of magnetopause, Geophysical Monograph, 1995, 90: 139.
Cargill, P. J., Chen, J., Spicer D. S. et al., Magnetohydrodynamic simulations of the motion of magnetic flux tubes through a magnetized plasma, J. Geophys. Res., 1996, 101: 4855.
Wang, S., Zheng, H. N., Magnnetic reconnection in the earth s distant magnetotail, Part: Streaming tearing instability, Chinese J. Geophys., 1991, 34: 663.
Liu Zhenxing, Chen Tao, Shen Chao et al., Transient magnetic reconnection at the magnetopause boundary layer, Proc. APFA & APPTC Beijing, 1998, 21-25, 187.
Geranios, A., Magnetically closed regions in the solar wind, Astrophys. and Space Sci., 1982, 81: 103.
Moldwin, M. B. et al., Ulysses observations of a noncoronal mass ejection flux rope: Evidence of interplanetary magnetic reconnection, J. Geophys. Res., 1995, 100: 19903.
Dryer, M., Interplanetary studies: Propagation of disturbances between the Sun and the magnetosphere, Space Sci. Rev., 1994, 67: 363.
Wei Fengsi, Schwerin, R., Hu Qiang, Magnetic reconnection events in the interplanetary space, Science in China, Ser. E, 1997, 40(5): 463.
Wei Fengsi, Hu Qiang, Schwenn, R., Simulation study of magnetic reconnection in the small-scale solarwind turbulence, Science in China, Ser. A, 2000, 43(6): 629.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
About this article
Cite this article
Wei, F., Hu, Q. & Feng, X. Numerical study of magnetic reconnection process near interplanetary current sheet. Chin.Sci.Bull. 46, 111–117 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03187003
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03187003