We investigate the large scale evolution of a relativistic magnetic reconnection in an electron-positron pair plasma by a relativistic two-fluid magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) code. We introduce an inter-species friction force as an effective resistivity to dissipate magnetic fields. We demonstrate that magnetic reconnection successfully occurs in our two-fluid system, and that it involves Petschek-...

We investigate the large-scale evolution of a relativistic magnetic reconnection in an electron–positron pair plasma by a relativistic two-fluid magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) code. We introduce an interspecies friction force as an effective resistivity to dissipate magnetic fields. We demonstrate that magnetic reconnection successfully occurs in our two-fluid system, and that it involves Petschek-t...

A new set of reduced equations governing two-dimensional, two-fluid, collisionless magnetic reconnection with arbitrary guide-field is derived. These equations represent a significant advance in magnetic reconnection theory, since the existing reduced equations used to investigate collisionless reconnection are only valid in the large guide-field limit. The new equations are used to calculate t...

In this Chapter we review a new and rapidly growing area of research in high-energy plasma astrophysics — radiative magnetic reconnection, defined here as a regime of reconnection where radiation reaction has an important influence on the reconnection dynamics, energetics, and/or nonthermal particle acceleration. This influence be may be manifested via a variety of radiative effects that are cr...

*Correspondence: Rudolf A. Treumann, International Space Science Institute Bern, Hallerstrasse 6, CH-3012 Bern, Switzerland e-mail: [email protected] Magnetic reconnection, the merging of oppositely directed magnetic fields that leads to field reconfiguration, plasma heating, jetting and acceleration, is one of the most celebrated processes in collisionless plasmas. It requires the violation...

[1] Magnetic reconnection with asymmetry in the outflow direction occurs in the Earth’s magnetotail, coronal mass ejections, flux cancellation events, astrophysical disks, spheromak merging experiments, and elsewhere in nature and the laboratory. A control volume analysis is performed for the case of steady antiparallel magnetic reconnection with asymmetric downstream pressure to derive scaling...

We present a detailed study of fluctuations in a laboratory current sheet undergoing magnetic reconnection. The measurements reveal the presence of lower-hybrid-frequency-range fluctuations on the edge of current sheets produced in the magnetic reconnection experiment (MRX). The measured fluctuation characteristics are consistent with theoretical predictions for the lower-hybrid drift instabili...

[1] Magnetic reconnection plays a key role in the circulation of plasma through the Earth’s magnetosphere. As such, the Earth’s magnetotail is an excellent natural laboratory for the study of reconnection and in particular the diffusion region. To address important questions concerning observational occurrence rates and average properties, the Cluster data set from 2001–2005 has been systematic...

The scaling of magnetic reconnection in the presence of an oppositely directed sub-Alfvénic shear flow parallel to the reconnecting magnetic field is studied using analytical scaling arguments and two-dimensional two-fluid numerical simulations of collisionless (Hall) reconnection. Previous studies noted that the reconnection rate falls and the current sheet tilts with increasing flow speed, bu...

Collisionless magnetic reconnection in high-temperature plasmas has been widely studied through fluid-based models. Here, we present results of fluid simulation implementing new equations of state for guide-field reconnection. The new fluid closure accurately accounts for the anisotropic electron pressure that builds in the reconnection region due to electric and magnetic trapping of electrons....