On the physical interpretation of Malyshkin’s (2008) model of resistive Hall magnetohydrodynamic reconnection

Abstract

A simple Sweet–Parker-like model for the electron current layer in resistive Hall magnetohydrodynamic reconnection is presented, with the focus on the small-resistivity limit. The derivation readily recovers the main results obtained recently by Malyshkin [Phys. Rev. Lett. 101, 225001 (2008)], but is much quicker and more physically transparent. In particular, it highlights the role of resistive drag in determining the electron outflow velocity. The principal limitations of any such approach are discussed.