Abstract
Parallel shearing flows significantly affect the structure of the magnetic reconnection layer and generate new shock structures such as intermediate shock (IS) and time-dependent IS. The strength of shock waves (such as slow shock) can be changed and result in the switch-off of magnetic reconnection under certain conditions. In this study, we perform numerical simulations of one-dimensional resistive magnetohydrodynamic equations by using the total variation diminishing algorithm to investigate the influence of parallel shear flow on the switch-off effect of magnetic reconnection on both asymmetric and symmetric magnetic reconnection layers. Numerical results show that there exists a critical shear velocity Vzc that equals VA in symmetrical antiparallel magnetic reconnection, where VA denotes the inflow Alfvén velocity. For symmetric component magnetic reconnection, Vzc drops with the increase in guide magnetic field strength, which also equals the component of inflow Alfvén velocity along the z-axis. In regard to asymmetric magnetic reconnection, the critical shear velocity, Vzc, that leads to the switch-off of magnetic reconnection, ranging between the z-axis components of inflow Alfvén velocity in the magentosheath and in the magnetosphere. A new parameter associated with the Alfvén velocity on both sides is proposed; for both antiparallel reconnection and component reconnection, this new parameter equals the critical shear velocities.
Highlights
There are many regions in space that are prone to magnetic reconnection
This study adopted the second-order Total Variation Diminishing (TVD) scheme with Roe averaging for solving the 1D MHD equations and performed numerical simulations on two different types of reconnection layer structures, namely, antiparallel reconnection and component reconnection when the initial current sheets were symmetric or asymmetric
All physical quantities are functions of time t and position x along the current sheet normal direction which is distinct with the two-dimensional solution that the normal to the current sheet is in the x direction, and the current sheet is located along x = 0.21 The magnetic field component along the z direction can be written as
Summary
There are many regions in space that are prone to magnetic reconnection. During the magnetic reconnection process, the energy of a magnetic field can be rapidly transformed into the kinetic energy of plasma. Asymmetric lobe reconnection may occur in the magnetotail with unbalanced development, especially in the case of strong east and west magnetic-field components.15 Another important factor that affects the structure of a reconnection layer is the existence of shear flows. In this study, using the high-resolution Total Variation Diminishing (TVD) algorithm, the influence of parallel shearing flows on the switchoff effect of symmetric and asymmetric magnetic reconnection under different guide magnetic fields was systematically investigated. Asymmetric lobe reconnection may occur in the magnetotail with unbalanced development, especially in the case of strong east and west magnetic-field components On another aspect, shear flows exist in high-latitude magnetopause and magnetotail of the Earth as well as on both sides of the magnetosphere. The right end item of Eq (2) was discretized with central differences
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
