Viscous effects on plasmoid formation from nonlinear resistive tearing growth in a Harris sheet

Abstract In this work, the evolution of a highly unstable m = 1 resistive tearing mode, leading to plasmoid formation in Harris sheet, is studied framework full MHD model using Non-Ideal Magnetohydrodynamics with Rotation, Open Discussion simulation. Following initial nonlinear growth primary island, X-point develops into secondary elongated current sheet that eventually breaks plasmoids. Two distinctive viscous regimes are found for and saturation. low viscosity regime (i.e. P r ≲ 1), width increases sharply viscosity, whereas dominant ≳ size gradually decreases viscosity. Such finding quantifies role modulating process through its effects on plasma flow reconnection itself.