Magnetic Reconnection, Turbulence, and Collisionless Shock

A short summary of recent progress in measuring and understanding turbulence during magnetic reconnection in laboratory plasmas is given. Magnetic reconnection is considered as a primary process to dissipate magnetic energy in laboratory and astrophysical plasmas. A central question concerns why the observed reconnection rates are much faster than predictions made by classical theories, such as the Sweet–Parker model based on MHD with classical Spitzer resistivity. Often, the local resistivity is conjectured to be enhanced by turbulence to accelerate reconnection rates either in the context of the Sweet–Parker model or by facilitating setup of the Pestchek model. Measurements at a dedicated laboratory experiment, called MRX or Magnetic Reconnection Experiment, have indicated existence of strong electromagnetic turbulence in current sheets undergoing fast reconnection. The origin of the turbulence has been identified as right-hand polarized whistler waves, propagating obliquely to the reconnecting field, with a phase velocity comparable to the relative drift velocity. These waves are consistent with an obliquely propagating electromagnetic lower-hybrid drift instability driven by drift speeds large compared to the Alfven speed in high-beta plasmas. Interestingly, this instability may explain electromagnetic turbulence also observed in collisionless shocks, which are common in energetic astrophysical phenomena.     

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%。     

The Magnetospheric cusps: A Summary

The polar cusps of the magnetosphere are key regions for the transfer of mass, momentum, and energy from the solar wind into the magnetosphere. Understaning these key regions and the dynamical interactions that occur there are fundamentally important to determining the physical nature of the magnetosphere. In this paper we try to summarize many of the conclusions reached in the papers of this special issue emphasizing the present concepts and definition of the cusp, what variations could be temporal structures and what could be spatial structures. We address the need for further measurements and the role of present and planned projects to address these needs.     

磁场重联中电子加速问题的物理分析和数值研究

观测表明耀斑中电子加速发生在软X射线耀斑环上方的磁重联区域.在重联电流片中被super Dreicer电场直接加速似乎是产生能量在10keV～10MeV之间高能电子的最直接的方式.本文的结果证明纵向电磁场可以有效地将电子“锁”在重联电流片上,使得横向电场得以直接加速电子.对于解释产生相对论性粒子的脉冲式耀斑,这可能是一个有效的机制.     

2004年3月18日高纬磁层顶多重通量管事件分析

2004-03-18 23:10～23:50 UT期间,“双星（Double Star）”探测一号卫星（TC 1）在向阳面磁层顶高纬晨侧由内向外穿越磁层顶,其时TC_1的GSM坐标为 (75RE, -55RE, -54RE), RE为地球半径.穿越过程中TC_1观测到了8个通量管和1个磁通量传输事件（FTEs）.在此期间Cluster星簇位于向阳面太阳风内,其GSM坐标为(180RE, -31RE, -62RE),其4颗卫星监测到行星际磁场（IMF）的BZ分量持续南向,BＹ有较大的负值.本文的研究表明：TC_1观测到的前7个通量管具有准周期重现性,周期大约是1～4 min,明显小于以前所观测到的FTEs的平均周期(8～11 min);所有的通量管都具有较强的核心场.本文分别使用最小方差分析法（MVA）和Grad_Shafranov反演方法（GSR）对通量管的轴向进行了分析和对比,发现所有的通量管主轴基本沿晨昏向,结果显示GSR方法在轴向分析上比MVA优越.本文使用GSR方法对通量管的磁场结构进行了分析,恢复出了通量管的磁场在卫星穿越面的结构图;此外,本文还对这次多重通量管事件进行了deHoffmann Teller(HT)分析,结果表明,所有通量管大致朝南极方向运动,均来源于向日面低纬区域.这说明它们可能起源于向日面低纬区,由该区的磁场分量重联产生.     

Structure and collapse of three-dimensional magnetic neutral points

Abstract

The structure and collapse of linear three-dimensional magnetic neutral points is studied by varying the four parameters (p, q,j_|,j_⊥ ) that define, in general, the linear field of a neutral point. The effect of these parameters on both the skeleton structure (i.e. the fan and spine) and the actual field line structure of the null is considered. It is found that one current component (j_⊥ ) causes the skeleton structure of the null to fold up from its potential state, whereas the other current component (j _|;) causes the field lines to bend. The two other parameters (p,q) determine the potential structure of the null and cause the null to transform from a three-dimensional null to a two-dimensional null and from a positive (type B) null to a negative (type A) null.

To investigate the collapse of three-dimensional nulls, solutions to the linear, low-β ideal magnetohydrodynamic equations are found. It is found that three-dimensional null points can collapse if the field line foot-points are free and energy can propagate into the system.     

涡旋诱发重联模型（Ⅰ）——动力学特性

本文首先从理论上系统地研究了涡旋诱发重联的基本动力学特性.包括:涡旋诱发重联的物理机制;Kelvin-Helmholtz（K-H）不稳定性和撕裂模不稳定性耦合过程;磁流体涡管的基本特性;不同尺度涡旋间的相互作用,动能和磁能间的转化及准稳态时流线、磁力线、等涡度线和等电流密度线的相似性等.用二维MHD数值模拟方法研究了上述一些特性,并与理论分析结论进行了比较.结果表明,模拟结果证实了理论推论.涡旋诱发重联是产生局部磁场重联的重要机制之一,该模型在磁顶区的应用将另文发表.     

通量传输事件磁场的理论计算及其与观测的比较

根据涡旋诱发重联理论,对通量传输事件（FTEs）磁场分布特性作了计算.结果表明,卫星测到的FTEs的不同磁场分布形态,是取决于通量管的运动方向及卫星穿越通量管的部位.在北半球,当通量管由低纬向高纬（由南向北）直向运动时,不论卫星通过什么部位,绝大多数情况下观测到先正后负的B_x,变化（即正FTE）,个别部位观测到先负后正的B_x变化（即反FTE）;B_z是单峰分布形式,表现为V型、倒V型或是U型和倒U型.当通量管在x方向有正或负速度分量即斜向运动时,大部分部位测到的B_x呈不规则变化,B_z表现为双极分布.与61个FTEs的观测实例作了对比,理论计算与观测符合得较好.     

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．