Abstract
We present the results of theoretical studies of formation and evolution of the current sheet in a colliosionless plasma during magnetic reconnection in relativistic limit. Relativistic magnetic reconnection is driven by parallel laser pulses interacting with underdense plasma target. Annihilation of laser created magnetic field of opposite polarity generates strong non-stationary electric field formed in between the region with opposite polarity magnetic field accelerating charged particles within the current sheet. This laser-plasma target configuration is discussed in regard with the laboratory modeling of charged particle acceleration and gamma flash generation in astrophysics. We present the results of 3-dimensional kinetic simulations and theoretical studies on the formation and evolution of the current sheet in a collisionless plasma during magnetic field annihilation in the ultra-relativistic limit. Annihilation of oppositively directed magnetic fields driven by two laser pulses interacting with underdense plasma target is accompanied by an electromagnetic burst generation. The induced strong non-stationary longitudinal electric field accelerates charged particles within the current sheet. Properties of the laser-plasma target configuration are discussed in the context of the laboratory modeling for charged particle acceleration and gamma flash generation in astrophysics.
Highlights
Magnetic reconnection (MR) is a fundamental process in astrophysical and laboratory plasmas which provides a mechanism to convert the magnetic field energy to the energy of plasmas and charged particles accompanying with the topology variation of the magnetic field lines[1,2,3]
The dynamics of laser produced plasmas has been shown in refs. 29–32 to provide a framework where MR can be investigated in the regimes of interest for astrophysical environment
We present the results of kinetic simulations on the collisionless relativistic MR regime in the 3D configurations
Summary
Magnetic reconnection (MR) is a fundamental process in astrophysical and laboratory plasmas which provides a mechanism to convert the magnetic field energy to the energy of plasmas and charged particles accompanying with the topology variation of the magnetic field lines[1,2,3]. Recent experimental works with intense and high-energy laser pulses have shown plasma outflows with keV electrons and plasmoid generation in current sheets formed during reconnection on the time scale of nanoseconds[35]. The magnetic fields with opposite polarities generated by the laser driven electron current is expected to annihilate in the low density region due to the transverse expansion of the magnetic field.
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