Journal
PHYSICS LETTERS A
Volume 294, Issue 2, Pages 101-107Publisher
ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV
DOI: 10.1016/S0375-9601(02)00027-0
Keywords
magnetic reconnection; coalescence instability; secondary instabilities
Categories
Ask authors/readers for more resources
The coalescence instability is a widely studied, two-dimensional magnetohydrodynamic process by which magnetic islands can merge at growth rates exceeding those of the resistive instability. We present three-dimensional numerical simulations which indicate that, under a broad range of conditions, the coalescence instability will not significantly affect the evolution of a magnetofluid because it is overwhelmed by three-dimensional dynamics. The new 3D unstable modes are ideal. They exhibit fast growth at short wavelengths, a desirable feature for transitioning to turbulence. At long times the system is dominated by structure aligned with the large scale magnetic field, contrary to what is expected as a result of coalescence. (C) 2002 Published by Elsevier Science B.V.
Authors
I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.
Reviews
Recommended
No Data Available