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| Paper: |
Recent Progress in Study ofMagnetic Reconnection in a Laboratory Plasma and Possible Application to Space Astrophysical Plasmas |
| Volume: |
369, New Solar Physics with Solar-B Mission |
| Page: |
391 |
| Authors: |
Yamada, M.; Ren, Y.; Ji, H |
| Abstract: |
This paper summarizes the recent progress in study of magnetic reconnection in a laboratory plasma focusing on the two-fluid physics in the reconnection layer, which has been recognized as a key in the interaction of solar wind with the earth magnetosphere. An out-of-plane quadrupole magnetic field caused by the Hall MHD effects have been observed together with microturbulence inside the reconnection layer. The observed size of the quadrupole field is in agreement with the numerical simulation results as well as with those measured in the neutral sheath of the magnetopause. The dependence of the quadrupole field amplitude on the collisionality supports an idea that the Hall effect plays an important role in the collisionless reconnection where the mean free path of electrons (λmfp) becomes longer than the characteristic size of the reconnection sheet (δ). It is important to note that the Hall effect, which occurs due to 2-D laminar flows of electrons in the reconnection plane, is observed together with the presence of low and high frequency magnetic turbulence, which often has 3-D structures. The observations in MRX have striking similarities to magnetospheric measurements of reconnection region, in which the quadrupole component has also been detected together with magnetic fluctuations. |
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