Kinematic reconnection at a magnetic null point: fan-aligned current

Magnetic reconnection at a three-dimensional null point is a natural extension of the familiar two-dimensional X-point reconnection. A model is set up here for reconnection at a null point with current directed parallel to the fan plane, by solving the kinematic, steady, resistive magnetohydrodynamic equations in its vicinity. The magnetic field is assumed to be steady, and a localised diffusion region surrounding the null point is also assumed, outside which the plasma is ideal. Particular attention is focussed on the way that the magnetic flux changes its connections as a result of the reconnection. The resultant plasma flow is found to cross the spine and fan of the null, and thus transfer magnetic flux between topologically distinct regions. Solutions are also found in which the flow crosses either the spine or fan only.     

磁场重联耗散区内X线附近的强低混杂波的Geotail卫星观测研究

Geotail卫星于2003年5月15日在近地磁尾观测到磁场重联并穿越重联耗散区.卫星从尾向—南尾瓣一侧穿越磁场重联耗散区到地向—北尾瓣一侧的过程中,随着等离子体流反向,霍尔磁场(B_y) 被观测到.本文研究了该磁场重联耗散区内的低混杂波.观测结果显示,在磁场重联耗散区核心及其附近区域观测到在低混杂频率附近存在强烈的等离子体波动的增强,其传播方向主要垂直于背景磁场,该等离子体波动为低混杂波.前人的模拟结果认为,当磁场重联得到充分发展之前,低混杂波将消失.本文的观测结果充分说明,当磁场重联充分发展之后,在核心区域仍然存在增强的低混杂波,说明低混杂波贯穿磁场重联的整个发展过程.这种观测结果与计算机等离子体模拟的结果有所不同.本文的观测对低混杂波在磁场重联中的具体表现提供了新的观测证据并有可能修正前人的理论.     

Linear collapse of spatially linear,three-dimensional,potential null points

The collapse of the magnetic field in the vicinity of a null point creates a large electrical current. Non-ideal effects in the surrounding plasma can then allow the onset of magnetic reconnection, which is important in many astrophysical phenomena. An elegant technique is used to show that spatially linear, initially potential, three-dimensional null points have a tendency to collapse with a growth of either the spine current or the fan current or a combination of both. The rate of collapse is determined for an incompressible plasma flow with open boundary conditions. An initial plasma flow affects the rate of collapse by speeding it up.     

磁岛合并研究

本文采用二维全粒子模拟来研究无碰撞等离子体中的磁岛合并过程.结果表明,磁岛合并分为两个阶段,在第一个阶段,两个磁岛因同向电流丝之间的吸引力而缓慢地相互靠近,在这个过程中,合并线附近的电子被面外电场加速,形成薄电流片,同时电流片两侧形成磁场堆积.第二个阶段为快速重联阶段,合并线附近的电磁场结构和以Harris电流片为初态的重联扩散区的电磁场结构很相似,其中最显著的特点为面外磁场的四极型结构.     

Stability of the line preserving flows

We examine the equations that are used to describe flows which preserve field lines. We study what happens if we introduce perturbations to the governing equations. The stability of the line preserving flows in the case of the magneto-fluids permeated by magnetic fields is strictly connected to the non-null magnetic reconnection processes. In most of our study we use the Euler potential representation of the external magnetic field. We provide general expressions for the perturbations of the Euler potentials that describe the magnetic field. Similarly, we provide expressions for the case of steady flow as well as we obtain certain conditions required for the stability of the flow. In addition, for steady flows we formulate conditions under which the perturbations of the external field are negligible and the field may be described by its initial unperturbed form. Then we consider the flow equation that transforms quantities from the laboratory coordinate system to the related external field coordinate system. We introduce perturbations to the equation and obtain its simplified versions for the case of a steady flow. For a given system, use of this method allows us to simplify the considerations provided that some part of the system may be described as a perturbation. Next, to study regions favourable for the magnetic reconnection to occur we introduce a deviation vector to the basic line preserving flows condition equation. We provide expressions of the vector for some simplifying cases. This method allows us to examine if given perturbations either stabilise the system or induce magnetic reconnection. To illustrate some of our results we study two examples, namely a simple laboratory plasma flow and a simple planetary magnetosphere model.     

引力场中磁场重联的数值研究（Ⅱ）磁力线足点的剪切运动

本文基于二维三分量可压缩磁流体动力学模拟，数值研究由于磁力线足点在光球层的剪切运动引起日冕电流片中的磁场重联过程。结果表明，磁力线足点的剪切运动作为引起强迫磁场重联的一种触发机制，将加速磁场重联的发展和磁岛的合并过程。结合不稳定性导致等离子体急剧加速，在β_∞＝０．１的情况下其加速度达到０．３４ν_Ａ∞／τＡ，等离子体的最大下落速度可达１．９０ν_Ａ∞，大于纯电阻撕裂模情况。还讨论了β_∞值对这种磁场重联过程的影响。β_∞值越小，磁场重联和磁岛合并过程发展得越快。     

Dynamic non-null magnetic reconnection in three dimensions–II: composite solutions

In this series of papers we examine magnetic reconnection in a domain where the magnetic field does not vanish and the non-ideal region is localised in space so that the reconnection is fully three dimensional. In a previous paper we presented a technique for obtaining analytical solutions to the full set of stationary resistive MHD equations and examined specific examples of non-ideal reconnective solutions. Here we further develop the model, noting that certain ideal solutions may be superimposed onto the fundamental non-ideal solutions. This provides the first analytical demonstration of a lack of coupling between reconnective and non-reconnective flows. We examine the effect of imposing various such ideal flows. Significant implications are found for the evolution of magnetic flux in the reconnection process so that several reconnection solutions may have the same reconnection rate, as defined by the integral of the parallel electric field along the reconnection line, but each appear quite different in terms of their global effect. It is shown that, in contrast to the two-dimensional case, in three dimensions there is a very wide variety of physically different steady reconnection solutions.     

磁通量浮现驱动磁场重联的数值研究

应用二维时变可压缩磁流体动力学数值模拟,研究了双极－单极磁场中由于磁通量浮现驱动的磁场重联过程．结果表明,双极场与单极场间磁力线的重联形成上升的冷而密的等离子体团,磁场演变成鞭状结构．向上运动的等离子体团到达其最大高度后将回落和弥散.等离子体团最大上升速度达０．１４ＶＡ,等离子体最大上升速度达０．２７ＶＡ,ＶＡ为下边界处的Ａｌｆｖｅｎ速度．随着磁通量浮现幅度的增大,等离子体上升速度增加,重联过程发展得较快．背景等离子体β１值（β１为等离子体压力与磁压之比）越小,等离子体团中密度增量越大．磁Ｌｕｎｄｑｕｉｓｔ数Ｓ在１０３－１０６之间的改变对等离子体的速度和密度增量影响并不明显．与电阻撕裂模不稳定性引起的自发重联相比,磁通量浮现会更有效地驱动双极－单极场中的磁场重联过程,寻致日冕Ｈα冲浪和Ｘ射线喷流的形成．     

K-H不稳定性在多电流片系统磁场重联中的效应

等离子体系统中存在两个或多个电流片时，电流片中发生的不稳定性可能会相互作用．行星际磁场北向时，背阳面碰层顶电流片与磁尾等离子体片之间可能发生相互作用，高纬边界层强烈的流场剪切可能促进磁场重联，产生磁层亚暴．本文运用二维可压缩磁流体模拟研究具有强流场剪切的多个电流片系统中磁场重联的演化．结果表明，Kelvin－Helmholtz不稳定性使多电流片系统的磁场重联过程明显加快；相邻电流片之间的距离越近，两者相互作用越强，重联增长率越大；在三电流片系统中，超Alfven速度强流场导致外侧两个电流片中出现强烈的磁场重联，并引发中心电流片的磁场重联．行星际磁场北向时，也可能发生磁层亚暴．     

磁场重联中的电子加速机制的数值模拟研究

在应用2.5维混合模拟方法研究Petschek模型磁场重联的基础上,考察了试验电子被加速的特征. 模拟结果表明,稳态的低频重联场能将少量试验电子加速到高能,电子的能谱为幂律谱,但总体分布函数未发生显著变化. 电子在整个加速过程中被束缚在低磁场的加速区内,由重联产生的感应电场Ey分量对其直接加速,根据加速时间和加速区域可以将这些电子分为两种情况：初始位于加速区和漂移到加速区被加速.     

非稳态多重X线重联的类型与特征

为了进一步认识间歇性多重Ｘ线重联的特征，本文分析计算结果，发现入流自边界进入后向两侧发散，沿着ｘ轴（ｚ＝０）和出流边界（ｚ＝２），压强Ｐ和磁场Ｂ的分布形态表明这种非稳态重联属快模式扩张型．数值结果还表明，进入扩散区的入流马赫数Ｍ_ｉ与磁雷诺数Ｒｍ之间基本满足关系式Ｍ_ｉ≈１．５Ｒ_ｍ^－１／２─１．７５Ｒ_ｍ^－１／２，而且等离子体的加速与压强Ｐ_ｔ(Ｐ_ｔ     

磁场重联中离子轨道的混合模拟研究

在使用2.5维混合模拟方法研究了Petschek模型稳态驱动磁场 重联演化的基础上， 本文考察了计算域内各典型区域中粒子分布函数的变化，描绘了重联区不同位置几种类型的 非Maxwell分布函数. 结果表明，磁场重联会将重联区少部分粒子加速到很高的能量，不同 加速程度的粒子将形成球壳状的速度分布. 粒子的轨道特征表明，在重联区中出流的粒子， 有一部分被磁镜捕获，其回旋半径大于重联区宽度，并构成整个流体速度的低速部分. 另外 ，在X中性点附近进入重联区的粒子沿磁力线向出流区以三种形式漂移，分别为：沿磁力线 逃逸、捕获在磁镜中随流体运动、横越磁力线漂移，其比例分别约为70%，20%和10%。     

2008年1月5日磁层亚暴期间磁尾近地重联事件的THEMIS观测与分析

本文主要应用THEMIS卫星的磁场和等离子体流观测数据,分析了2008年1月5日08∶51~08∶57 UT亚暴膨胀相期间磁尾的一个近地重联事件.在亚暴膨胀相期间,地面的全天空成像仪清楚地记录到了极光的极向扩展,THEMIS的P5卫星在地球同步轨道附近观测到了磁场的偶极化现象.在亚暴膨胀相末期的08∶51~08∶57 UT期间,P3(X_GSM~-9.12R_E) 和P4 (X_GSM ~-9.40R_E) 同时观测到了一对方向相反的高速等离子体流.这对方向相反的高速等离子体流是由磁尾的重联现象所引起.重联的位置被估计位于X_GSM ~-9.12R_E 和X_GSM~-9.40R_E之间较小的空间范围内.并且,在重联位置的两侧,重联的Hall效应被P3和P4两颗卫星观测到.因此,这一磁尾重联事件发生在距离地球非常近的空间范围内.     

非均匀动压冲击和停止后产生的瞬时重联过程

在非均匀动压冲击期间和冲击突然停止,可引起等离子体边界层的局部瞬时重联过程．本文用二维可压缩ＭＨＤ数值模拟方法研究了这两个过程．结果表明：当大尺度的均匀横向流从一侧边冲击边界层时,磁力线不弯曲,也不发生磁场重联,只是边界层被推着向下游运动;当局部的非均匀动压（特别是横向剪切流）冲击边界层时,被冲击的同向磁场区磁力线逐渐弯曲,在弯曲的反磁场区,出现磁岛,然后在电流片区发生磁场重联,且逐渐形成准稳态的“反Ｋ型”重联结构;当横向剪切流冲击停止后,边界层区变为非常不稳定的系统,产生多种流体涡旋和流型,并相应地产生多种类型的磁场重联结构,直到涡旋消失变为湍动状态时,磁场拓扑才逐渐恢复到未扰动状态。我们提出,外力作用的突然停止,可能是驱动重联的一种新机制,并对这种重联过程在磁层物理中可能的应用进行了讨论．     

Predicted signatures of pulsed reconnection in ESR data

Early in 1996, the latest of the European inco-herent-scatter (EISCAT) radars came into operation on the Svalbard islands. The EISCAT Svalbard Radar (ESR) has been built in order to study the ionosphere in the northern polar cap and in particular, the dayside cusp. Conditions in the upper atmosphere in the cusp region are complex, with magnetosheath plasma cascading freely into the atmosphere along open magnetic field lines as a result of magnetic reconnection at the dayside magnetopause. A model has been developed to predict the effects of pulsed reconnection and the subsequent cusp precipitation in the ionosphere. Using this model we have successfully recreated some of the major features seen in photometer and satellite data within the cusp. In this paper, the work is extended to predict the signatures of pulsed reconnection in ESR data when the radar is pointed along the magnetic field. It is expected that enhancements in both electron concentration and electron temperature will be observed. Whether these enhancements are continuous in time or occur as a series of separate events is shown to depend critically on where the open/closed field-line boundary is with respect to the radar. This is shown to be particularly true when reconnection pulses are superposed on a steady background rate.     

准周期性磁结构的形成过程及其特征的数值分析

在入流马赫数ＭＡ为０．１－０．４范围内，选取不同的入流，逐一考察在可压缩导电介质中磁场重联的类型随磁雷诺数Ｒｍ的变化．大量的数值结果表明：在不同入流驱动下，磁雷诺数（Ｒｍ）均有临界值存在，如果等离子体系统逐渐趋于稳定的单Ｘ线重联；若间歇性的次级撕裂产生了重复出现的磁结构，而且Ｍａ越大产生间歇性次级撕裂的临界值越高，与ＭＡ之间基本上符合线性关系．此外还发现，当多重Ｘ线重联间歇性地出现时，有关物理量发生准周期性地振荡．     

引力场中磁场重联的数值研究──（Ⅰ）磁岛的形成和合并

数值研究了引力场中电阻撕裂模不稳定性所引起的磁场重联，结果表明，在电流片长度Ｌ＝１Ｈ、半宽度δ＝Ｈ／２４的情况下，电流片两端附近将出现两个Ｘ线的磁场重联，并形成磁岛和高温高密度的等离子体团．磁岛宽度随着时间而增长，在ｔ≈５５τ_Ａ时达到饱和，最大饱和岛宽约为４δ．同时从ｔ≈３７τ_Ａ开始，磁岛中心位置逐渐下降；在ｔ＝５７τ_Ａ时发生结合不稳定性，磁岛与底部附近的闭合磁场区合并，导致磁场湮灭和磁能的快速释放．另一方面，由于引力场和等离子体非均匀性的影响，顶部附近随时间而增长的等离子体外流速度达１．１４Ｖ_Ａ∞；磁岛中等离子体向下运动的最大速度达１．４１Ｖ_Ａ∞，且大于局地声速；在磁岛前方可形成快激波．这些结果可用于解释双带耀斑中后随耀斑环的形成、磁场湮灭和磁能释放、以及Ｄｏｐｐｌｅｒ速度图上观测到的红移现象．     

行星际磁场By分量对地球磁层顶场向电流调制

采用三维可压缩MHD数值模拟研究了行星际磁场By分量的变化对磁层顶重联区场向电流大小和分布的影响. 行星际磁场通过模拟区x=-Lx处左边界条件By来影响重联过程，从而改变重联区的场向电流. 研究结果表明边界条件By的突然改变，能使重联区场向电流迅速增加，甚至达到增大一个量级的水平.By本身的存在(即不为零)也会使场向电流维持在一个较高的水平. 由于行星际磁场By分量不为零，而形成模拟区磁场By不对称分布，这种不对称分布是场向电流不对称分布产生的主要原因. 这些结果是与Orsted卫星最新观测结果和地 面观测结果相符合的，它表明行星际磁场By分量对地球空间场向电流有较大的调制作用.     

驱动重联过程中等离子体团的聚合

本文对驱动重联过程作了二维可压缩磁流体动力学模拟．对于长的计算域（１：４），在持续入流的作用下形成了双重磁岛结构，这些磁岛在向外运动的过程中不断靠近，逐渐聚合成为一个大的等离子体团，并继续向外运动．这说明在地球磁层顶和磁尾所观测到的大尺度磁结构，很可能是在驱动重联过程中，由较小的等离子体团聚合后形成的．并初步揭示了在空间等离子体中，磁岛的聚合过程难以直接观测的动力学原因．