Numerical study of non-gyrotropic electron pressure effects in collisionless magnetic reconnection

We investigate the time evolution of six-component electron pressure tensor in a hybrid code studying consequences for two-dimensional reconnection process an initially perturbed Harris sheet. put forward that two components (a diagonal and non-diagonal one) grow unstable way unless isotropization operator is considered. This term physically associated with heat flux. As consequence, we enhanced value component observed very middle field reversal at sub-ion scale. Because increase kinetic pressure, magnetic decreased this layer, hence increasing out-of-plane current its edges leading to bifurcation. The bifurcation mechanism based on presence anisotropy, related gradient inflow bulk velocity. direction results deceleration ions entering X-point region. suggest bifurcated sheets resulting from anisotropies/agyrotropies correspond smaller rates compared non-bifurcated ones.