Fast reconnection in nonrelativistic 2D electron-positron plasmas

In this Letter, we put forth (and validate numerically) a fluid-based analytical theory, which predicts that fast reconnection in nonrelativistic, low-beta pair plasmas is possible in collisionless regimes. This novel theoretical result complements recent kinetic computational evidence and challenges the accepted understanding, which considers fast dispersive waves (not supported in pair plasmas) as the key enabling physics ingredient for fast reconnection. The implications of this theory for the understanding of fast reconnection in standard electron-proton plasmas are discussed.