Magnetic Fluxtube Tunneling,
Abstract
We present numerical simulations of the collision and subsequent interaction of two initially orthogonal, twisted, force free field magnetic fluxtubes. The simulations were carried out using a new three dimensional explicit parallelized Fourier collocation algorithm for solving the viscoresistive equations of compressible magnetohydrodynamics. It is found that, under a wide range of conditions, the fluxtubes can 'tunnel' through each other. Two key conditions must be satisfied for tunneling to occur: the magnetic field must be highly twisted with a field line pitch >>1, and the magnetic Lundquist number must be somewhat large, > or = 2880. this tunneling behavior has not been seen previously in studies of either vortex tube or magnetic fluxtube interactions. An examination of magnetic field lines shows that tunneling is due to a double reconnection mechanism. Initially orthogonal field lines reconnect at two specific locations, exchange interacting sections and 'pass' through each other. The implications of these results for solar and space plasmas are discussed.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 03, 1996
- Accession Number
- ADA307358
Entities
People
- D. Norton
- Russell B. Dahlberg
- Spiro K. Antiochos
Organizations
- United States Naval Research Laboratory