Replication data for: Collisionless Magnetic Reconnection in an Asymmetric Oxygen Density Configuration

Abstract

Particle-in-cell (PIC) simulation for space plasma physics that is used in the article 'Collisionless Magnetic Reconnection in an Asymmetric Oxygen Density Configuration'. Magnetic reconnection is one of the most important energy release and transport processes in plasmas. In case of the Earth's magnetosphere, magnetic reconnection is the primary mechanism responsible for the transport of energy, mass, momentum, and magnetic flux into Earth's magnetic cavity. On the night side, magnetic flux is transported from two inflow regions (north and south) to meet in what is known as the current layer. We simulate a specific scenario where heavy particles, here oxygen, which are asymmetrically distributed accompany the flow of the more abundant plasma species (e.g. protons and electrons) towards the current layer. This simulation is designed to mimic magnetotail reconnection for an asymmetric oxygen density configuration. Oxygen is uniformly distributed above 2.5 proton inertial lengths over the current layer.