Non-equilibrium Ionization Research Articles

Quantifying the Influence of Key Physical Processes on the Formation of Emission Lines Observed by IRIS. I. Non-equilibrium Ionization and Density-dependent Rates

Abstract In the work described here, we investigate atomic processes leading to the formation of emission lines within the Interface Region Imaging Spectrograph wavelength range at temperatures near 105 K. We focus on (1) non-equilibrium and (2) density-dependent effects influencing the formation and radiative properties of S iv and O iv. These two effects have significant impacts on spectroscopic diagnostic measurements of quantities associated with the plasma that emission lines from S iv and O iv provide. We demonstrate this by examining nanoflare-based coronal heating to determine what the detectable signatures are in transition region emission. A detailed comparison between predictions from numerical experiments and several sets of observational data is presented to show how one can ascertain when non-equilibrium ionization and/or density-dependent atomic processes are important for diagnosing nanoflare properties, the magnitude of their contribution, and what information can be reliably extracted from the spectral data. Our key findings are the following. (1) The S/O intensity ratio is a powerful diagnostic of non-equilibrium ionization. (2) Non-equilibrium ionization has a strong effect on the observed line intensities even in the case of relatively weak nanoflare heating. (3) The density dependence of atomic rate coefficients is only important when the ion population is out of equilibrium. (4) In the sample of active regions we examined, weak nanoflares coupled with non-equilibrium ionization and density-dependent atomic rates were required to explain the observed properties (e.g., the S/O intensity ratios). (5) Enhanced S/O intensity ratios cannot be due solely to the heating strength and must depend on other processes (e.g., heating frequency, non-Maxwellian distributions).

Efficient Calculation of Non-local Thermodynamic Equilibrium Effects in Multithreaded Hydrodynamic Simulations of Solar Flares

Abstract Understanding the dynamics of the chromosphere is crucial to understanding energy transport across the solar atmosphere. The chromosphere is optically thick at many wavelengths and described by non-local thermodynamic equilibrium (NLTE), making it difficult to interpret observations. Furthermore, there is considerable evidence that the atmosphere is filamented, and that current instruments do not resolve small-scale features. In flares, it is likely that multithreaded models are required to describe the heating. The combination of NLTE effects and multithreaded modeling requires computationally demanding calculations, which has motivated the development of a model that can efficiently treat both. We describe the implementation of a solver in a hydrodynamic code for the hydrogen level populations that approximates the NLTE solutions. We derive an accurate electron density across the atmosphere that includes the effects of nonequilibrium ionization for helium and metals. We show the effects on hydrodynamic simulations, which are used to synthesize light curves using a postprocessing radiative transfer code. We demonstrate the utility of this model on IRIS observations of a small flare. We show that the Doppler shifts in Mg ii, C ii, and O i can be explained with a multithreaded model of loops subjected to electron beam heating, so long as NLTE effects are treated. The intensities, however, do not match the observed values very well, which is due to assumptions about the initial atmosphere. We briefly show how altering the initial atmosphere can drastically alter line profiles and derived quantities and suggest that it should be tuned to preflare observations.

Non-equilibrium Ionization Effects on Extreme-ultraviolet Emissions Modulated by Standing Sausage Modes in Coronal Loops

Abstract Forward-modeling the emission properties in various passbands is important for confidently identifying magnetohydrodynamic waves in the structured solar corona. We examine how non-equilibrium ionization (NEI) affects the extreme-ultraviolet (EUV) emissions modulated by standing fast sausage modes (FSMs) in coronal loops, taking the Fe ix 171 Å and Fe xii 193 Å emission lines as examples. Starting with the expressions for linear FSMs in straight cylinders, we synthesize the specific intensities and spectral profiles for the two spectral lines by incorporating the self-consistently derived ionic fractions in the relevant contribution functions. We find that relative to the case where equilibrium ionization (EI) is assumed, NEI considerably impacts the intensity modulations, but shows essentially no effect on the Doppler velocities or widths. Furthermore, NEI may affect the phase difference between intensity variations and those in Doppler widths for Fe xii 193 Å when the line of sight is oblique to the loop axis. While this difference is 180° when EI is assumed, it is ∼90° when NEI is incorporated for the parameters we choose. We conclude that in addition to viewing angles and instrumental resolutions, NEI further complicates the detection of FSMs in spectroscopic measurements of coronal loops in the EUV passband.

Ion Charge States in a Time-Dependent Wave-Turbulence-Driven Model of the Solar Wind

Ion fractional charge states, measured in situ in the heliosphere, depend on the properties of the plasma in the inner corona. As the ions travel outward in the solar wind and the electron density drops, the charge states remain essentially unaltered or "frozen in". Thus they can provide a powerful constraint on heating models of the corona and acceleration of the solar wind. We have implemented non-equilibrium ionization calculations into a 1D wave-turbulence-driven (WTD) hydrodynamic solar wind model and compared modeled charge states with the Ulysses 1994-5 in situ measurements. We have found that modeled charge state ratios of $C^{6+}/C^{5+}$ and $O^{7+}/O^{6+}$, among others, were too low compared with Ulysses measurements. However, a heuristic reduction of the plasma flow speed has been able to bring the modeled results in line with observations, though other ideas have been proposed to address this discrepancy. We discuss implications of our results and the prospect of including ion charge state calculations into our 3D MHD model of the inner heliosphere.

The Time Evolution of the HH 1 Jet Modeled as a Variable Outflow

Abstract The HH 1 jet is a chain of knots extending out to ∼20″ from the VLA 1 source of the HH 1/2 system. Four epochs of [S ii] images obtained with the Hubble Space Telescope over a ∼20 yr period show that these knots have a time-evolving intensity as they travel away from the outflow source. We present an axisymmetric, gas-dynamic simulation of a two-sinusoidal-mode variable ejection velocity jet (including a treatment of the non-equilibrium ionization of the gas) from which we obtain predictions of the time evolution of the chain of knots close to the outflow source. Both the intensity versus position dependence (for the successive knots) and the time evolution of the [S ii] intensities of the individual knots obtained from the simulations agree in a very impressive way with the HH 1 jet observations. This is one of the most striking illustrations of the success of variable jet models at reproducing the observed properties of HH jets. Also, this work represents the first attempted comparison between models and observations of astrophysical jets with both time and spatial resolution.

Ultraviolet Line Intensities of Intermediate and High Ions Predicted from Non-equilibrium Ionization Simulations

Abstract We predict the UV emission line intensities produced by turbulent mixing layers (TMLs) between hot and warm gas and in high-velocity clouds (HVCs) traveling through hot gas such as that in the extended Galactic halo, circumgalactic medium, and intergalactic space. The calculations include the effects of hydrodynamic mixing, cooling, and non-equilibrium ionization and were done with the FLASH code and the Raymond and Smith code. A variety of mixing-layer and cloud conditions were simulated, resulting in 13 individual models. The intensities of 21 UV emission lines or doublets of 14 ions of carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, and silicon in TMLs and HVCs are tabulated. These ions are C ii, C iii, C iv, N ii, N iii, N iv, N v, O iii, O iv, O v, O vi, Si ii, Si iii, and Si iv. Owing to the relatively small assumed pressures and depths, our predicted intensities are small. However, when properly scaled to account for the pressures and depths of such gas in other places, the predicted intensities can be used to estimate the sensitivity needed for observations of the diffuse UV emission or compared with observations of a variety of astrophysical structures. The ratios of the predicted Si iv, C iv, N v, and O vi intensities are expected to remain invariant when the predictions are scaled to correspond to denser regions. The ratios of the predicted Si iv, C iv, and O vi intensities are compared with those of regions in our Galaxy that were observed by SPEAR/FIMS and the Far Ultraviolet Spectroscopic Explorer and with those predicted for other models, including an analytical model of TMLs and a model with a magnetized thermal conduction front.

Estimate of the Upper Limit on Hot Plasma Differential Emission Measure (DEM) in Non-Flaring Active Regions and Nanoflare Frequency Based on the Mg xii Spectroheliograph Data from CORONAS-F/SPIRIT

The nanoflare-heating theory predicts steady hot plasma emission in the non-flaring active regions. It is hard to find this emission with conventional non-monochromatic imagers (such as Atmospheric Imaging Assembly or X-Ray Telescope), because their images contain a cool temperature background. In this work, we search for hot plasma in non-flaring active regions using the Mg XII spectroheliograph onboard Complex Orbital Observations Near-Earth of Activity on the Sun (CORONAS)-F/SPectroheliographIc X-ray Imaging Telescope (SPIRIT). This instrument acquired monochromatic images of the solar corona in the Mg XII 8.42 \AA line, which emits only at temperatures higher than 4 MK. The Mg XII images contain the signal only from hot plasma without any low-temperature background. We studied the hot plasma in active regions using the SPIRIT data from 18-28 February 2002. During this period, the Mg XII spectroheliograph worked with a 105-second cadence almost without data gaps. The hot plasma was observed only in the flaring active regions. We do not observe any hot plasma in non-flaring active regions. The hot plasma column emission measure in the non-flaring active region should not exceed $3 \times 10^{24}$ cm$^{-5}$. The hot Differential Emission Measure (DEM) is less than 0.01 % of the DEM of the main temperature component. Absence of Mg XII emission in the non-flaring active regions can be explained by weak and frequent nanoflares (delay less than 500 seconds) or by very short and intense nanoflares that lead to non-equilibrium ionization.

The deepestChandraX-ray study of the plerionic supernova remnant G21.5−0.9

G21.5-0.9 is a plerionic supernova remnant (SNR) used as a calibration target for the Chandra X-ray telescope. The first observations found an extended halo surrounding the bright central pulsar wind nebula (PWN). A 2005 study discovered that this halo is limb-brightened and suggested the halo to be the missing SNR shell. In 2010 the spectrum of the limb-brightened shell was found to be dominated by non-thermal X-rays. In this study, we combine 15 years of Chandra observations comprising over 1~Msec of exposure time (796.1~ks with the Advanced CCD Imaging Spectrometer (ACIS) and 306.1~ks with the High Resolution Camera (HRC)) to provide the deepest-to-date imaging and spectroscopic study. The emission from the limb is primarily non-thermal and is described by a power-law model with a photon index $\Gamma = 2.22 \, (2.04-2.34)$, plus a weak thermal component characterized by a temperature $kT = 0.37\, (0.20-0.64)$ keV and a low ionization timescale of $n_{e}t < 2.95 \times 10^{10}$ cm$^{-3}$s. The northern knot located in the halo is best fitted with a two-component power-law + non-equilibrium ionization thermal model characterized by a temperature of 0.14 keV and an enhanced abundance of silicon, confirming its nature as ejecta. We revisit the spatially resolved spectral study of the PWN and find that its radial spectral profile can be explained by diffusion models. The best fit diffusion coefficient is $D \sim 2.1\times 10^{27}\rm cm^2/s$ assuming a magnetic field $B =130 \mu G$, which is consistent with recent 3D MHD simulation results.

Column Density Profiles of Cold Clouds Driven by Galactic Outflows

Abstract Absorption line studies are essential to understanding the origin, nature, and impact of starburst-driven galactic outflows. Such studies have revealed a multiphase medium with a number of poorly understood features leading to a need to study the ionization mechanism of this gas. To better interpret these observations, we make use of a suite of adaptive mesh refinement hydrodynamic simulations of cold, atomic clouds driven by hot, supersonic outflows, including the effect of radiative cooling, thermal conduction, and an ionizing background characteristic of a starbursting galaxy. Using a new analysis tool, trident, we estimate the equilibrium column density distributions for 10 different ions: H i, Mg ii, C ii, C iii, C iv, Si iii, Si iv, N v, O vi, and Ne viii. These are fit to model profiles with two parameters describing the maximum column density and coverage, and for each ion we provide a table of these fit parameters, along with average velocities and line widths. Our results are most sensitive to Mach number and conduction efficiency, with higher Mach numbers and more efficient conduction leading to more compact, high column density clouds. We use our results to interpret down-the-barrel observations of outflows and find that the adopted ionization equilibrium model overpredicts column densities of ions such as Si iv and does not adequately capture the observed trends for N v and O vi, implying the presence of strong nonequilibrium ionization effects.

Eigenvalue Method for NEI Unit in FLASH Code

Abstract We describe an improved nonequilibrium ionization (NEI) method that we have developed as an optional module for the FLASH magnetohydrodynamic simulation code. The method employs an eigenvalue approach rather than the earlier iterative ordinary differential equation approach to solve the stiff differential equations involved in NEI calculations. The new code also allows the atomic data to be easily updated from the AtomDB database. We compare both the updated atomic data and the methods separately. The new atomic data are shown to make a significant difference in some circumstances, although the general trends remain the same. Additionally, the new method also allows simultaneous calculation of the nonequilibrium radiative cooling, which is not included in the original method. The eigenvalue method improves the calculation efficiency overall with no loss of accuracy. We explore some common ways to present the NEI state with a sample simulation and find that using average ionic charge difference from the equilibrium tends to be the clearest method.

Solar UV and X-ray spectral diagnostics

X-ray and ultraviolet (UV) observations of the outer solar atmosphere have been used for many decades to measure the fundamental parameters of the solar plasma. This review focuses on the optically thin emission from the solar atmosphere, mostly found at UV and X-ray (XUV) wavelengths, and discusses some of the diagnostic methods that have been used to measure electron densities, electron temperatures, differential emission measure (DEM), and relative chemical abundances. We mainly focus on methods and results obtained from high-resolution spectroscopy, rather than broad-band imaging. However, we note that the best results are often obtained by combining imaging and spectroscopic observations. We also mainly focus the review on measurements of electron densities and temperatures obtained from single ion diagnostics, to avoid issues related to the ionisation state of the plasma. We start the review with a short historical introduction on the main XUV high-resolution spectrometers, then review the basics of optically thin emission and the main processes that affect the formation of a spectral line. We mainly discuss plasma in equilibrium, but briefly mention non-equilibrium ionisation and non-thermal electron distributions. We also summarise the status of atomic data, which are an essential part of the diagnostic process. We then review the methods used to measure electron densities, electron temperatures, the DEM, and relative chemical abundances, and the results obtained for the lower solar atmosphere (within a fraction of the solar radii), for coronal holes, the quiet Sun, active regions and flares.

A Suzaku X-ray study of the mixed-morphology supernova remnant Kes 69 and searching for its gamma-ray counterpart

Kes 69 is a mixed-morphology (MM) supernova remnant (SNR) that is known to be interacting with molecular clouds based on 1720 MHz hydroxyl (OH) maser emission observations in the northeastern and southeastern regions. We present an investigation of Kes 69 using $\sim$67 ks Suzaku observation. The X-ray spectrum of the whole SNR is well fitted by a non-equilibrium ionization model with an electron temperature of $kT_{\rm e}$ $\sim$ 2.5 keV, ionization time-scale of $\tau$ $\sim$ 4.1$\times10^{10}$ cm$^{-3}$ s and absorbing column density of $N_{\rm H}$ $\sim$ 3.1$\times10^{22}$ cm$^{-2}$. We clearly detected the Fe-K$\alpha$ line at $\sim$6.5 keV in the spectra. The plasma shows slightly enhanced abundances of Mg, Si, S and Fe indicating that the plasma is likely to be of ejecta origin. We find no significant feature of a recombining plasma in this SNR. In order to characterize radial variations in the X-ray spectral parameters, we also analyze annular regions in the remnant. We investigate the explosive origin of Kes 69 and favor the core-collapse origin. Additionally, we report a lack of significant gamma-ray emission from Kes 69, after analyzing the GeV gamma-ray data taken for about 9 years by the Large Area Telescope on board Fermi. Finally, we discuss the properties of Kes 69 in the context of other interacting MM SNRs.

The multiphase circumgalactic medium traced by low metal ions in EAGLE zoom simulations

We explore the circumgalactic metal content traced by commonly observed low ion absorbers, including C II, Si II, Si III, Si IV, and Mg II. We use a set of cosmological hydrodynamical zoom simulations run with the EAGLE model and including a non-equilibrium ionization and cooling module that follows 136 ions. The simulations of z~0.2 L* (M_200=10^11.7-10^12.3 Msol) haloes hosting star-forming galaxies and group-sized (M_200=10^12.7-10^13.3 Msol) haloes hosting mainly passive galaxies reproduce key trends observed by the COS-Halos survey-- low ion column densities show 1) little dependence on galaxy specific star formation rate, 2) a patchy covering fraction indicative of 10^4 K clouds with a small volume filling factor, and 3) a declining covering fraction as impact parameter increases from 20-160 kpc. Simulated Si II, Si III, Si IV, C II, and C III column densities show good agreement with observations, while Mg II is under-predicted. Low ions trace a significant metal reservoir, ~10^8 Msol, residing primarily at 10-100 kpc from star-forming and passive central galaxies. These clouds tend to flow inwards and most will accrete onto the central galaxy within the next several Gyr, while a small fraction are entrained in strong outflows. A two-phase structure describes the inner CGM (<0.5 R_200) with low-ion metal clouds surrounded by a hot, ambient medium. This cool phase is separate from the O VI observed by COS-Halos, which arises from the outer CGM (>0.5 R_200) tracing virial temperature gas around L* galaxies. Physical parameters derived from standard photo-ionization modelling of observed column densities (e.g. aligned Si II/Si III absorbers) are validated against our simulations. Our simulations therefore support previous ionization models indicating that cloud covering factors decline while densities and pressures show little variation with increasing impact parameter.

Numerical Study on the Effect of Anode Position on the Performance of Disk MHD Generator

The unsteady-state quasi-one-dimensional numerical simulations of the disk MHD generator have been conducted for various anode position. The results indicate that the non-equilibrium ionization instability of the plasma can be effectively suppressed by the appropriate anode position, and thus, the performance of the non-equilibrium disk MHD generator can be improved. Moreover, when the geometry and boundary conditions of disk MHD generator are determined, the optimal position of the anode is predicted to maximize the enthalpy extraction rate of the generator.

Investigating Galactic Supernova Remnant Candidates Using LOFAR

Abstract We investigate six supernova remnant (SNR) candidates—G51.21+0.11, G52.37–0.70, G53.07+0.49, G53.41+0.03, G53.84–0.75, and the possible shell around G54.1+0.3—in the Galactic plane using newly acquired Low-Frequency Array High-band Antenna observations, as well as archival Westerbork Synthesis Radio Telescope and Very Large Array Galactic Plane Survey mosaics. We find that G52.37–0.70, G53.84–0.75, and the possible shell around pulsar wind nebula G54.1+0.3 are unlikely to be SNRs, while G53.07+0.49 remains a candidate SNR. G51.21+0.11 has a spectral index of α = − 0.7 ± 0.21, but lacks X-ray observations and as such requires further investigation to confirm its nature. We confirm one candidate, G53.41+0.03, as a new SNR because it has a shell-like morphology, a radio spectral index of α = − 0.6 ± 0.2 and it has the X-ray spectral characteristics of a 1000–8000 year old SNR. The X-ray analysis was performed using archival XMM-Newton observations, which show that G53.41+0.03 has strong emission lines and is best characterized by a nonequilibrium ionization model, consistent with an SNR interpretation. Deep Arecibo radio telescope searches for a pulsar associated with G53.41+0.03 resulted in no detection, but placed stringent upper limits on the flux density of such a source if it was beamed toward Earth.

Contribution of supernovae-driven galactic fountain on fuel rate

The interstellar medium in our galaxy is a complex system which involves multiphase gas in a wide range of temperatures and densities. Accompanied by physical processes such as cooling, gravity and magnetic fields it is known that the supernovae blast waves can reshuffle the ISM by generating a galactic fountain. In our study, we mainly focus on estimating the fuel rate of the fountain which is defined as the supply rate of material from the gas falling back into the galactic disk. We take into account the effect of cooling by combining the use of non-equilibrium ionization (NEI) and collisional ionization equilibrium (CIE). Dealing with cooling in this manner, we aim to reduce computation time by using a prebuilt CIE cooling table at applicable physical conditions instead of constantly considering time dependent ion fractions for NEI cooling.

On the Importance of the Nonequilibrium Ionization of Si iv and O iv and the Line of Sight in Solar Surges

Abstract Surges are ubiquitous cool ejections in the solar atmosphere that often appear associated with transient phenomena like UV bursts or coronal jets. Recent observations from the Interface Region Imaging Spectrograph show that surges, although traditionally related to chromospheric lines, can exhibit enhanced emission in Si iv with brighter spectral profiles than for the average transition region (TR). In this paper, we explain why surges are natural sites to show enhanced emissivity in TR lines. We performed 2.5D radiative-MHD numerical experiments using the Bifrost code including the nonequilibrium (NEQ) ionization of silicon and oxygen. A surge is obtained as a by-product of magnetic flux emergence; the TR enveloping the emerged domain is strongly affected by NEQ effects: assuming statistical equilibrium would produce an absence of Si iv and O iv ions in most of the region. Studying the properties of the surge plasma emitting in the Si iv λ1402.77 and O iv λ1401.16 lines, we find that (a) the timescales for the optically thin losses and heat conduction are very short, leading to departures from statistical equilibrium, and (b) the surge emits in Si iv more and has an emissivity ratio of Si iv to O iv larger than a standard TR. Using synthetic spectra, we conclude the importance of line-of-sight effects: given the involved geometry of the surge, the line of sight can cut the emitting layer at small angles and/or cross it multiple times, causing prominent, spatially intermittent brightenings in both Si iv and O iv.

Femtosecond laser ablation of Al-Mg alloy in vacuum and air

Ablation rates of Al-Mg alloy were studied as a function of laser fluences in air and vacuum. The central wavelength was 800 nm and the pulse duration was 35 fs. Three distinct ablation regimes were identified from the ablation rate curves. Ablation thresholds of 0.16 J/cm2, and 0.73 J/cm2 were obtained in the low and moderate laser fluence regimes, respectively. In the case of the third ablation regime, the ablation rate in vacuum is much higher than that in air, which may be due to the oxidation effects and strong defocusing effects associated with the non-equilibrium ionization of air. The damage threshold decreased with the increase of the pulse number, showing an accumulation effect. The fs laser ablated craters showed smooth edges, and laser-induced periodic surface structures (LIPSS) were observed around craters.

Non-equilibrium ionization by a periodic electron beam

Context. Transition region (TR) spectra typically show the Si IV 1402.8 Å line to be enhanced by a factor of 5 or more compared to the neighboring O IV 1401.2 Å, contrary to predictions of ionization equilibrium models and the Maxwellian distribution of particle energies. Non-equilibrium effects in TR spectra are therefore expected. Aims. To investigate the combination of non-equilibrium ionization and high-energy particles, we apply the model of the periodic electron beam, represented by a κ-distribution that recurs at periods of several seconds, to plasma at chromospheric temperatures of 104 K. This simple model can approximate a burst of energy release involving accelerated particles. Methods. Instantaneous time-dependent charge states of silicon and oxygen were calculated and used to synthesize the instantaneous and period-averaged spectra of Si IV and O IV. Results. The electron beam drives the plasma out of equilibrium. At electron densities of Ne = 1010 cm−3, the plasma is out of ionization equilibrium at all times in all cases we considered, while for a higher density of Ne = 1011 cm−3, ionization equilibrium can be reached toward the end of each period, depending on the conditions. In turn, the character of the period-averaged synthetic spectra also depends on the properties of the beam. While the case of κ = 2 results in spectra with strong or even dominant O IV, higher values of κ can approximate a range of observed TR spectra. Spectra similar to typically observed spectra, with the Si IV 1402.8 Å line about a factor 5 higher than O IV 1401.2 Å, are obtained for κ = 3. An even higher value of κ = 5 results in spectra that are exclusively dominated by Si IV, with negligible O IV emission. This is a possible interpretation of the TR spectra of UV (Ellerman) bursts, although an interpretation that requires a density that is 1–3 orders of magnitude lower than for equilibrium estimates.

Magnetic Reconnection in Strongly Magnetized Regions of the Low Solar Chromosphere

Abstract Magnetic reconnection in strongly magnetized regions around the temperature minimum region of the low solar atmosphere is studied by employing MHD-based simulations of a partially ionized plasma within a reactive 2.5D multi-fluid model. It is shown that in the absence of magnetic nulls in a low β plasma, the ionized and neutral fluid flows are well-coupled throughout the reconnection region. However, non-equilibrium ionization–recombination dynamics play a critical role in determining the structure of the reconnection region, leading to much lower temperature increases and a faster magnetic reconnection rate as compared to simulations that assume plasma to be in ionization–recombination equilibrium. The rate of ionization of the neutral component of the plasma is always faster than recombination within the current sheet region even when the initial plasma β is as high as . When the reconnecting magnetic field is in excess of a kilogauss and the plasma β is lower than 0.0145, the initially weakly ionized plasmas can become fully ionized within the reconnection region and the current sheet can be strongly heated to above K, even as most of the collisionally dissipated magnetic energy is radiated away. The Hall effect increases the reconnection rate slightly, but in the absence of magnetic nulls it does not result in significant asymmetries or change the characteristics of the reconnection current sheet down to meter scales.