Magnetic reconnection with large separatrix angles

Abstract

The magnetic reconnection process is studied here using incompressible MHD simulations with different inflow boundary conditions and different magnetic Reynolds numbers R(m). The angle between the magnetic separatrices is in steady state reconnection depends mainly on the normal magnetic field on the inflow boundary. In steady state nonuniform reconnection with large separatrix angles, field-aligned plasma jets appear slightly downstream of the magnetic separatrices. The field-aligned plasma jet are stronger when R(m) is larger. Each field-aligned plasma jet consists of two parts: a slow shock and a fast-mode compressional wave. The slow shock converts the magnetic energy into plasma kinetic energy by acceleration and heating. The fast-mode compressional wave decelerates the plasma to a smaller outflow speed and heats it further. Nearly all the magnetic energy flowing into the diffusion region is converted into other forms. The length and width of the diffusion region depend on the values of the reconnection rate, R(m), and the normal magnetic field on the inflow boundary.