Three-dimensional Hall magnetic reconnection

Abstract

New numerical results of three-dimensional magnetic reconnection in the Hall limit (L<c/ωpi where c/ωpi is the ion inertial length) are presented. The reconnection process is initiated with a magnetic field perturbation localized along the current channel in a reversed field plasma configuration. The perturbation induces a magnetic wave structure that propagates opposite to the current, and leads to the asymmetric thinning of the plasma layer, strong plasma flows in the direction of the current, and rapid magnetic reconnection. The propagating wave structure is a Hall phenomenon associated with magnetic field curvature. The reconnection rate is independent of a (weak) guide field and the boundary conditions (i.e., periodic or outflowing).