Linear collapse of spatially linear 3D potential null points

C Mellor, VS Titov, Eric Ronald Priest

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

The collapse of the magnetic field in the vicinity of it null point creates a large electrical current. Non-ideal effects in the surrounding plasma can then allow the onset of magnetic reconnection, which is important in many astrophysical phenomena. An elegant technique is used to show that spatially linear, initially potential, three-dimensional null points have it tendency to collapse with it growth of either the spine current or the fan current or a combination of both. The rate of collapse is determined for an incompressible plasma flow with open boundary conditions. An initial plasma flow affects the rate of collapse by speeding it up.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)489-505
Number of pages17
JournalGeophysical and Astrophysical Fluid Dynamics
Volume97
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Dec 2003

Keywords

  • magnetohydrodynamic (MHD)
  • null points magnetic collapse
  • MAGNETIC NEUTRAL LINE
  • RECONNECTION
  • FLOWS
  • FIELD

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