Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item:
http://arks.princeton.edu/ark:/88435/dsp01sj1395028
Title: | Multi-Fluid and Kinetic Models of Partially Ionized Magnetic Reconnection |
Contributors: | Jara-Almonte, J. Murphy, N.A. Ji, H. U. S. Department of Energy contract number DE-AC02-09CH11466 |
Keywords: | Magnetic reconnection Partially ionized plasmas |
Issue Date: | 2021 |
Publisher: | Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory, Princeton University |
Abstract: | Magnetic reconnection in partially ionized plasmas is a ubiquitous and important phenomena in both laboratory and astrophysical systems. Here, simulations of partially ionized magnetic reconnection with well-matched initial conditions are performed using both multi-fluid and fully-kinetic approaches. Despite similar initial conditions, the time-dependent evolution differs between the two models. In multi-fluid models, the reconnection rate locally obeys either a decoupled Sweet-Parker scaling, where neutrals are unimportant, or a fully coupled Sweet-Parker scaling, where neutrals and ions are strongly coupled, depending on the resistivity. In contrast, kinetic models show a faster reconnection rate that is proportional to the fully-coupled, bulk Alfv\'en speed, $v_A^\star$. These differences are interpreted as the result of operating in different collisional regimes. Multi-fluid simulations are found to maintain $\nu_{ni}L/v_A^\star \gtrsim 1$, where $\nu_{ni}$ is the neutral-ion collision frequency and $L$ is the time-dependent current sheet half-length. This strongly couples neutrals to the reconnection outflow, while kinetic simulations evolve to allow $\nu_{ni}L/v_A^\star < 1$, decoupling neutrals from the reconnection outflow. Differences in the way reconnection is triggered may explain these discrepancies. |
URI: | http://arks.princeton.edu/ark:/88435/dsp01sj1395028 |
Appears in Collections: | Plasma Science & Technology |
Files in This Item:
File | Description | Size | Format | |
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hifi_rate.csv | 460.38 kB | CSV | View/Download | |
slice_data.h5 | 3.92 MB | h5 | View/Download | |
elastic_cross_sections.csv | 177.99 kB | CSV | View/Download | |
data.csv | 13.21 kB | CSV | View/Download | |
vpic_rate.csv | 9.44 kB | CSV | View/Download | |
README.txt | 290 B | Text | View/Download |
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