日冕冲浪形成的磁流体动力学模拟

应用二维时变可压缩磁流体动力学模拟,数值研究了双极-单极磁场中电阻撕裂模不稳定性引起的磁场重联过程,用于模拟日冕冲浪的形成.结果表明,在包含有三区——双极场、电流片和单极场的磁静力平衡初态下,双极场和单极场中的磁力线将会直接重联,磁场演变成鞭状(whip)结构.由弯曲磁力线支撑的等离子体团向上运动到最高位置后,逐渐下落和弥散.等离子体团上升速度可达到0.10v_A(v_A为双极场中的Alfv'én速度).模拟结果证实日冕冲浪的形成可能与双极-单极场中的磁场重联密切相关.      

太阳表面水平运动驱动的磁圈与开放磁场重联的模拟研究

太阳大气的诸多观测事件(如耀斑、喷流等)均被归因于磁重联产生的能量转换. 近年来, 关于太阳风起源, 有研究提出了磁重联使闭合磁圈开放为太阳风供应物质的新模式. 在该模式中, 闭合磁圈被光球超米粒组织对流携带, 向超米粒边界运动, 与位于边界的开放磁场相碰撞进而发生磁重联. 该模式中磁重联的驱动及其效应是本文的研究目标. 磁流体力学(MHD)数值模拟是研究太阳大气磁重联物理过程的重要途径. 本文建立了一个二维MHD数值模型, 结合太阳大气温度和密度的分层分布, 在超米粒组织尺度上模拟了水平流动驱动的闭合磁圈与开放磁场的重联过程. 通过对模拟结果的定量分析, 认为磁重联确实能够将闭合磁圈的物质释放, 进而供应给新的开放磁结构并产生向上流动. 该结果为进一步模拟研究太阳风初始外流奠定了基础.      

无力场的触发重联和太阳耀斑

采用多步隐格式,对在瞬间形成的电流片的触发下的高剪切无力场的磁重联过程进行了数值模拟。磁重联首先在交界面处的非中性电流片区出现,然后向无力场区蔓延。在磁重联过程中,在无力场区形成一高温环状结构,物质向光球层流动。在高温环内侧的新喷发场区,物质向上流动。磁重联主要集中在初始电流片外侧的高剪切无力场区,高温环顶部的温度最高,位置基本固定。在磁重联的过程中,剪切磁场分量的空间梯度减小,无力场因子下降。     

各向异性等离子体多重电流片的演化

应用二维三维量磁流体动力学方程组模拟，数值研究了压力各向异性等离子体周期多重电流片的演化，发现在β＜＜1时，微弱的各向异性仅仅使电流片中磁场重联的速度加快，而当β≈1（即热压与磁压相当时，微弱的垂直各向异性不仅大大加速了磁场重联的速度，还使重联位置发生显著变化。初始反对称的磁场重联位形逐步转化为对称的磁场位形，进而再演化为与初始反相的反对称磁场位形，场向各向异性和强的垂直各向异性都导致不稳定性增长率成倍增加。但在场各向异下磁场位形基本不变，只在电流片中心出现不规则扰动，同样参数下向向异性等离子体多重电流片中磁场重联形成的磁岛比各向同性多层电流要小。     

有剪切速度的Sweet-Parker薄电流片在非线性阶段的不稳定性研究

以Harris Sheet作为初始条件, 使用数值模拟的方法, 研究了二级磁岛不稳定重联的一些性质. 在模拟中随着初始扰动的加入, Harris Sheet将演化到非线性阶段, 形成更薄的有剪切速度的电流片, 并伴有一级磁岛产生. 当Lundquist数大于或等于105时, 非均匀剪切速度的Sweet-Parker电流片开始不稳定, 并有二级磁岛出现. 不稳定Sweet-Parker电流片对应的临界长宽比为65. Lundquist数越大, 演化形成的Sweet-Parker电流片越薄, 更多的二级磁岛将出现, 且沿电流片两边向外喷出, 随时间变大, 相互合并. 二级磁岛的出现使重联率增大, 并与Lundquist数之间不再满足S-1/2的关系, 而似乎对它的依赖关系不明显.      

空间等离子体压力各向异性对磁场重联的影响

基于二维时变可压缩磁流体动力学模拟,数值研究了等离子体压力各向异性对磁场重联的影响,发现一个小的压力各向异性(P_⊥=1.02P_//)即可大大加速磁场重联的发展,这可能是由于磁镜不稳定性与撕裂模不稳定性共同起作用.在P_⊥P_//的情况下,撕裂模受到抑制,电流片中不能形成大型磁岛.      

电流片的自发重联与无力场──磁岛的形成

采用二维三分量磁流体力学数值模拟方法,研究了线性无力场对电流片的自发重联的影响。结果表明:电流片的背景场(无力场)对重联的拓扑位形有重要的影响,当无力场因子达到一定值时,在模拟区域内出现大范围的磁岛,磁岛厚度随时间的发展而增加,而无力场因子较小时则没有磁岛形成。当无力场因子为零时,即回到普通的位场情形的单x线重联,位场情形磁场拓扑位形与Scholar的结果一致。      

初始电流片长宽比对非对称多重X线重联的影响

采用可压缩电阻性磁流体力学模型,研究了初始电流片的长宽比Lx对非对称多重X线磁场重联的影响.研究结果发现,当Lx超过一定的阈值时,非对称磁场重联的演化过程中将伴有多重X线重联发生.进一步地研究结果表明,当Lx越大,多重X线重联就越容易出现,相同时间间隔内所诱发的次级磁岛的尺寸也随之相应变大,不仅如此,次级磁岛的尺寸占整...     

MMS星座对磁层顶磁通量绳内离子惯性尺度结构的观测

利用MMS观测数据,对磁层顶通量绳内离子惯性尺度（d_i）的结构进行分析研究.结果发现,许多不同尺度（约1d_i至数十d_i）的通量绳内都存在具有d_i尺度的电流 j _m,其方向在磁层顶局地坐标系的-M方向,即与磁层顶查普曼-费拉罗电流同向,由电子在+M方向的运动（ v _em）携带.这些电流结构具有以下特征:磁鞘与磁层成分混合,磁场为开放形态;离子去磁化,电子与磁场冻结;N方向（即垂直于磁层顶电流片方向）的电场 E _n显著增大,幅度达到约20mV·m-1,并伴有明显的尖峰状起伏,该增强和尖峰状起伏的电场对应于霍尔电场.分析表明,电流、电子与离子运动的偏离以及霍尔电场之间遵从广义欧姆定律,三者密切关联.进一步对磁层顶磁重联的探测数据进行分析发现,在很多重联区内也存在与通量绳内相似的结构,其尺度约为d_i量级,其中霍尔电场 E _N、电流 j _M和电子速度 v _eM均与通量绳内对应物理量的方向相同且幅度相近.基于上述观测事实,采用经典FTE通量绳模型,对通量绳内电流、电子运动和霍尔电场的起源进行了初步探讨,认为其来源于磁层顶无碰撞磁重联区内的相应结构,并且后者在离子尺度通量绳的形成过程中起到重要作用.      

三维试验粒子轨道法在磁层粒子全球输运中的应用

根据磁层粒子动力学理论, 通过偶极磁场模型验证利用三维试验粒子轨道方法模拟近地球区(r < 8R_e)带电粒子运动特征的可靠性. 在此基础上, 以太阳风和磁层相互作用的全球MHD模拟结果为背景, 利用三维试验粒子轨道方法, 对非磁暴期间南向行星际磁场背景下太阳风离子注入磁层的情形进行数值模拟, 并对北向行星际磁场背景下太阳风离子注入极尖区以及内磁层的几种不同情形进行了单粒子模拟. 模拟结果反映了南向和北向行星际磁场离子向磁层的几种典型输入过程, 揭示出行星际磁场南向时太阳风粒子在磁层内密度分布的晨昏不对称性以及其在磁鞘和磁层内的大致分布, 并得出统计规律. 模拟结果与理论预测和观测结论相一致, 且通过数值模拟发现, 行星际磁场北向时靠近极尖区附近形成的非典型磁镜结构对于能量粒子经由极尖区注入环电流区域过程有重要的影响和作用.      

Numerical study of magnetic reconnection possibly occurring near heliospheric current sheet

The third-order accurate upwind compact difference scheme has been applied for the numerical study of the magnetic reconnection driven by a plasma blob impacting the heliospheric current sheet, under the framework of the two-dimensional compressible magnetohydrodynamics. The results show that the driven reconnection near the current sheet could occur in about 10–30 min for the interplanetary high magnetic Reynolds number, R_M = 2000–10,000, a stable magnetic reconnection structure can be formed in hour order of magnitude, and there appear some basic properties such as the multiple X-line reconnections, vortex structures, filament current systems, splitting and collapse of the high-density plasma blob. These results are helpful in understanding and identifying the magnetic reconnection phenomena possibly occurring near the heliospheric current sheets.     

Where will efficient energy release occur in 3-D magnetic configurations?

The energy needed to power flares is thought to be stored in the coronal magnetic field. However, the energy release is efficient only at very small scales. Magnetic configurations with a complex topology, i.e. with separatrices, are the most obvious configurations where current sheets can form, and then, reconnection can efficiently occur. This has been confirmed for several flares computing the coronal field and comparing the locations of the flare loops and ribbons to the deduced 3-D magnetic topology. However, this view is too restrictive taking into account the variety of observed solar flaring configurations. Indeed, “Quasi-Separatrix Layers” (QSLs), which are regions where there is a drastic change in field-line linkage, generalize the definition of separatrices. They let us understand where reconnection occurs in a broader variety of flares than separatrices do. The strongest electric field and current are generated at, or close to where the QSLs are thinnest. This defines the region where particle acceleration can efficiently occur. A new feature of 3-D reconnection is the natural presence of fast field-line slippage along the QSLs, a process called “slip-running reconnection”. This is a plausible origin for the motions of the X-ray sources along flare ribbons.     

Magnetic fluxtube reconnection

We present the results of 3D numerical simulations of initially discrete magnetic fluxtubes interacting via magnetic reconnection. The initial topology consists of two orthogonal fluxtubes. Each fluxtube has a uniform twist, force-free magnetic field specified by the Gold-Hoyle model. The fluxtubes are then forced together by an initial flow configuration consisting of two superimposed stagnation point flows. We observe three distinct types of interaction, which depend on the twist and on the Lundquist numbers, between the fluxtubes. For low twist the fluxtubes experience an elastic collision. For a higher twist complete reconnection is observed. If the Lundquist numbers are raised fluxtube tunneling occurs.     

Magnetospheric Boundary Layer Structure and Dynamics as Seen From Cluster and Double Star Measurements

In this review, we discuss the structure and dynamics of the magnetospheric Low-Latitude Boundary Layer (LLBL) based on recent results from multi-satellite missions Cluster and Double Star. This boundary layer, adjacent to the magnetopause on the magnetospheric side, usually consists of a mixture of plasma of magnetospheric and magnetosheath origins, and plays an important role in the transfer of mass and energy from the solar wind into the magnetosphere and subsequent magnetospheric dynamics. During southward Interplanetary Magnetic Field (IMF) conditions, this boundary layer is generally considered to be formed as a result of the reconnection process between the IMF and magnetospheric magnetic field lines at the dayside magnetopause, and the structure and plasma properties inside the LLBL can be understood in terms of the time history since the reconnection process. During northward IMF conditions, the LLBL is usually thicker, and has more complex structure and topology. Recent observations confirm that the LLBL observed at the dayside can be formed by single lobe reconnection, dual lobe reconnection, or by sequential dual lobe reconnection, as well as partially by localized cross-field diffusion. The LLBL magnetic topology and plasma signatures inside the different sub-layers formed by these processes are discussed in this review. The role of the Kelvin-Helmholtz instability in the formation of the LLBL at the flank magnetopause is also discussed. Overall, we conclude that the LLBL observed at the flanks can be formed by the combination of processes, (dual) lobe reconnection and plasma mixing due to non-linear Kelvin-Helmholtz waves.      

磁云边界层中的重联慢激波观测分析

在Petschek模型中，排空区边界处的一对慢激波是能量耗散的重要机制.已有大量行星际空间的Petschek型磁场重联排空区观测事件被报道，但是只有少量的排空区边界处观测到了慢激波.针对一例位于磁云边界层中的Petschek型磁场重联排空区观测事件，在排空区靠近磁云一侧边界处证认了一例慢激波.激波跃变层两侧的磁场和等离子体参数满足Rankine-Hugoniot关系，且激波上下游的中间马赫数均小于1，上游的慢马赫数为2.94（>1），下游的慢马赫数为0.65（<1），符合慢激波的观测特征.磁云内部的等离子体β值很低，局地阿尔芬速度高，同时磁云边界层中可能发生丰富的磁场重联活动，这可能是磁云前边界处慢激波形成的原因.      

基于能量色散特征计算磁层顶重联位置的方法研究

磁层顶磁场重联是太阳风向磁层输入能量的主要方式.重联如何触发一直是空间物理研究的难点,其机制仍然有待深入研究.由于卫星穿越磁层顶时,很难恰好穿越重联发生的区域,因此难以观测到重联的触发条件.本文利用THEMIS卫星观测,确立了反演磁层顶重联点的方法.当重联刚开始发生时,卫星能够观测到离子的能量色散特征,可利用其计算卫星到重联发生位置的距离.沿着磁力线模型追踪该距离即可反演出磁层顶发生重联的位置.与其他方法进行了对比分析,结果显示本文方法比其他方法具有更高的精度.      

Modelling and observations of photospheric magnetic helicity

Mounting observational evidence of the emergence of twisted magnetic flux tubes through the photosphere have now been published. Such flux tubes, formed by the solar dynamo and transported through the convection zone, eventually reach the solar atmosphere. Their accumulation in the solar corona leads to flares and coronal mass ejections. Since reconnections occur during the evolution of the flux tubes, the concepts of twist and magnetic stress become inappropriate. Magnetic helicity, as a well preserved quantity, in particular in plasma with high magnetic Reynolds number, is a more suitable physical quantity to use, even if reconnection is involved.     

Transient fast reconnection in dynamic current sheets with anomalous resistivity

Two-dimensional compressible magnetohydrodynamic simulations of current sheet dynamics under the influence of multiple anomalous resistivity areas and slight asymmetries are presented. Following induced tearing and multiple coalescence, a plasmoid is formed and accelerated. Dominant X-points drive the dynamical evolution and lead to transient occurrence of a Petschek-like reconnection geometry. The dependence of current density extrema, plasmoid bulk velocity and maximum reconnection rate on the Lundquist number is examined.