Particle acceleration in coalescent and squashed magnetic islands
Abstract
Aims. Magnetic reconnection in large Harris-type reconnecting current sheets (RCSs) with a single X-nullpoint often leads to the occurrence of magnetic islands with multiple O- and X-nullpoints. Over time these magnetic islands become squashed, or coalescent with two islands merging, as has been observed indirectly during coronal mass ejection and by in-situ observations in the heliosphere and magnetotail. These points emphasise the importance of understanding the basic energising processes of ambient particles dragged into current sheets with magnetic islands of different configuration.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Pub Defense Publication
- Publication Date
- Dec 01, 2018
- Source ID
- 10.1051/0004-6361/201833599
Entities
People
- Qing Xia
- V. Zharkova
Organizations
- United States Air Force