Statistics of magnetic reconnection in two-dimensional magnetohydrodynamic turbulence

The nonlinear dynamics of magnetic reconnection in turbulence is investigated through direct numerical simulations of decaying, incompressible, two-dimensional magnetohydrodynamics. Recently, it was shown by Servidio [Phys. Rev. Lett. 102, 115003 (2009)] that in fully developed turbulence complex pr...

Descripción completa

Guardado en:
Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores principales: Servidio, S., Matthaeus, W.H., Shay, M.A., Dmitruk, P., Cassak, P.A., Wan, M.
Formato: JOUR
Materias:
Acceso en línea:http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12110/paper_1070664X_v17_n3_p_Servidio
Aporte de:
Descripción
Sumario:The nonlinear dynamics of magnetic reconnection in turbulence is investigated through direct numerical simulations of decaying, incompressible, two-dimensional magnetohydrodynamics. Recently, it was shown by Servidio [Phys. Rev. Lett. 102, 115003 (2009)] that in fully developed turbulence complex processes of reconnection occur locally. Here, the main statistical features of these multiscale reconnection events are further described, providing details on the methodology. It is found that is possible to describe the reconnection process in turbulence as a generalized local Sweet-Parker process in which the parameters are locally controlled by the turbulence cascade, thus providing a step toward reconciling classical turbulence analysis with reconnection theory. This general description of reconnection may be useful for laboratory and space plasmas, where the presence of turbulence plays a crucial role. © 2010 American Institute of Physics.