Mechanisms of impulsive magnetic reconnection: Global and local aspects

Abstract

The global and local aspects of mechanisms of impulsive magnetic reconnection are discussed focusing on results from a dedicated laboratory experiment, MRX (Magnetic Reconnection Experiment), as well as fusion experiments. Possible application of the present analysis to reconnection phenomena in solar and space plasmas is also discussed. An external force which drives internal current in a fusion plasma causes magnetic flux to accumulate in a core section of the plasma (flux build-up). When the flux build-up generates a magnetic profile that satisfies a condition for a global magnetohydrodynamic instability to develop, reconnection takes place in an induced current layer generated by the instability leading to a global self-organization of the plasma. Generally the flux build-up phase is significantly longer than the reconnection time, τH ≫ τRec, thus making the waveform of flux evolution or other plasma parameters sawtooth shaped. In the reconnection layer of collisionless plasmas, the two fluid dynamics would lead to the formation of a narrow electron current channel which tends to become unstable against micro-instabilities, leading to an unsteady or impulsive reconnection. A common feature of impulsive reconnection after flux build-up is presented.