Analytical MHD model of three-dimensional time-dependent reconnection in a compressible plasma

We describe and analyse a model of three-dimensional time-varying reconnection in which the effect of surface waves is neglected. Reconnection is assumed to be caused by a localized decrease of the plasma conductivity inside the diffusion region. The localized dissipation gives rise to an electric field E^*, which determines the reconnection rate. As a result, the current sheet decays into a system of large-amplitude MHD waves, which propagate along the current sheet and thereby induce perturbations in the surrounding medium. Our model is applied to the case of reconnection at the magnetopause, in particular to the signatures referred to as FTEs (flux transfer events).     

Tearing,coalescence and fragmentation processes in solar flare current sheet and drifting pulsating structures

The paper presents a summary of results from two different simulations which study the tearing, coalescence and fragmentation of current sheets, the associated production of energetic electrons and of plasma waves from these electrons which could explain drifting pulsation structures observed at radio wavelengths. Using a 2.5-D particle-in-cell (PIC) model of the current sheet it is shown that due to the tearing mode instability the current sheet tears into plasmoids and these plasmoids later on coalesce into larger ones. During these processes electrons are accelerated and they produce observable electromagnetic waves. Furthermore, the 3-D PIC model with two current sheets extended in the electric current direction shows their fast fragmentation associated with the exponential dissipation of the free magnetic field energy. An example of the drifting pulsating structure which is considered to be a radio signature of the above mentioned processes in solar flares is shown.     

Injection mechanism for cosmic ray acceleration

The quasilinear theory of MHD waves excitation by cosmic rays accelerated at a front of supernova shock has been constructed. It is shown that the energetic particles excite the waves propagating from the shock front, the intensity and the spectrum of these waves is obtained. The role of nonlinear Landau damping in the formation of such spectrum has been analysed. The diffusive scattering length of the high energy particles in the preshock region has been calculated and it is shown with the help of these formulae that the effective Fermi acceleration at the shock front is possible upto the values of the relativistic factor = 10⁴ - 10⁵. The injection mechanism for cosmic rays acceleration has been proposed. It is based on stochastic Fermi acceleration of the thermal plasma by MHD waves excited in the preshock region. Different possibilities for wave phase velocity dispersion needed for stochastic Fermi acceleration are analysed, those are the excitation of the oblique magnetosonic waves as well as the excitation of parallel Alfven waves propagating in opposite directions. The distribution function of the suprathermal particles accelerated by MHD waves is obtained, the cosmic rays density as well as the lower boundary of their energy spectrum realised in the proposed mechanism are also calculated.     

Driven reconnection in the near-Earth plasma sheet

In some recent MHD simulations of the near-Earth plasma sheet we studied onset and evolution of reconnection due to non-linear resistive instabilities. In our present contribution we show that these non-linear instabilities can be amplified significantly by inflow through the plasma sheet boundary and we discuss the consequences of that driving mechanism on the global dynamics of the instabilities. For high magnetic Reynolds numbers we find thin current sheets developing.     

MHD oscillations in solar and stellar coronae: Current results and perspectives

Wave and oscillatory activity is observed with modern imaging and spectral instruments in the visible light, EUV, X-ray and radio bands in all parts of the solar corona. Magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) wave theory gives satisfactory interpretation of these phenomena in terms of MHD modes of coronal structures. The paper reviews the current trends in the observational study of coronal oscillations, recent development of theoretical modelling of MHD wave interaction with plasma structures, and implementation of the theoretical results for the mode identification. Also the use of MHD waves for remote diagnostics of coronal plasmas is discussed. In particular, the applicability of this method to the estimation of the coronal magnetic field is demonstrated.     

周期性多电流片系统中涡旋诱发重联过程的相互作用

运用二维可压缩磁流体动力学(MHD)模拟方法考察了周期性多电流片系统中涡旋诱发重联(VIR)过程的发展演化.结果表明,相邻电流片中的VIR过程发生相互作用,相距越近,作用越强烈.反对称和对称波模VIR过程的线性增长率随电流片间距的减小而分别增大和降低.当电流片间距小于某临界值时,反对称波模VIR完全被抑制.相对于对称波模VIR,反对称波模VIR过程对空间多电流片系统的发展会发挥更大作用.      

Magnetic reconnection in solar flares and corresponding radio bursts

The 2D MHD model of the flare magnetic reconnection shows that a reconnection activity, changes of the magnetic field topology and generation of waves are connected. It is found that after the phase of a quasi-stationary reconnection in the extended current sheet above the flare arcade the tearing mode instability produces the plasmoids which then can interact and generate MHD waves. Results of particle-in-cell simulations of the tearing processes, which accelerate electrons, are mentioned. Then all these processes are discussed from the point of view of possible radio emissions. While shocks can contribute to the type II radio burst, the superthermal electrons trapped in plasmoids can generate so called drifting pulsating structures. Furthermore, regions with the MHD turbulence may manifest themselves as the lace or dm-spike bursts.     

Excitation of flare-induced waves in coronal loops and the effects of radiative cooling

EUV imaging observations from several space missions (SOHO/EIT, TRACE, and SDO/AIA) have revealed a presence of propagating intensity disturbances in solar coronal loops. These disturbances are typically interpreted as slow magnetoacoustic waves. However, recent spectroscopic observations with Hinode/EIS of active region loops revealed that the propagating intensity disturbances are associated with intermittent plasma upflows (or jets) at the footpoints which are presumably generated by magnetic reconnection. For this reason, whether these disturbances are waves or periodic flows is still being studied. This study is aimed at understanding the physical properties of observed disturbances by investigating the excitation of waves by hot plasma injections from below and the evolution of flows and wave propagation along the loop. We expand our previous studies based on isothermal 3D MHD models of an active region to a more realistic model that includes full energy equation accounting for the effects of radiative losses. Computations are initialized with an equilibrium state of a model active region using potential (dipole) magnetic field, gravitationally stratified density and temperature obtained from the polytropic equation of state. We model an impulsive injection of hot plasma into the steady plasma outflow along the loops of different temperatures, warm (～1 MK) and hot (～6 MK). The simulations show that hot jets launched at the coronal base excite slow magnetoacoustic waves that propagate to high altitudes along the loops, while the injected hot flows decelerate rapidly with heights. Our results support that propagating disturbances observed in EUV are mainly the wave features. We also find that the effect of radiative cooling on the damping of slow-mode waves in 1–6 MK coronal loops is small, in agreement with the previous conclusion based on 1D MHD models.     

Interaction of shocks with a current sheet and reconnection in the solar corona

Interaction of shocks with a current sheet is investigated within a 2D MHD model based on an improved FCT numerical scheme. Basic parameters of the problem are chosen to correspond to situations in the solar corona with low plasma β and moderate shock strength. Slow and fast MHD shocks are introduced with shock normal parallel to magnetic field lines. The interaction with the current sheet causes distortion of the shock front and this distorts the magnetic field lines and generates electric current. Large current densities are generated especially when the fast MHD shock becomes the intermediate MHD shock at the current sheet. Then peak values of the current density are about 3–4 times larger than the initial undisturbed values in the current sheet.     

太阳大气中有限振幅磁场扰动的动力学过程

本文从完整的磁流体动力学方程组出发,通过太阳大气中磁力线管根部有限振幅磁场的扰动,研究了非线性磁场的动力学演化。假设初始磁场位形足β<<1的势场,根部磁力线管磁场扰动,驱动等离子体运动,一部分磁能转换为等离子体动能。等离子体压缩运动具有快磁声波的特性。计算结果给出非线性磁场演化的定量关系,可以解释太阳大气中日冕活动过程。也可用于模拟实验室里高β实验装置中的等离子体的持性。      

土星磁层顶的Kelvin-Helmholtz不稳定性和磁流体表面波

本文采用可压缩磁流体力学近似并选取Voyager-1的观测数据,讨论了土星磁层顶的Kelvin-Helmholtz不稳定性和磁流体表面波.计算表明,土星磁层随星体自转同磁鞘流之间的速度差,可以在地方时午前、中午和距中午不远的午后磁层顶激发不稳定性;午前和午后区有很强的非对称性.计算所得的波的特性与观测一致.      

The damping of small-amplitude oscillations in quiescent prominences

The presence of small-amplitude oscillations in prominences is well-known from long time ago. These oscillations, whose exciters are still unknown, seem to be of local nature and are interpreted in terms of magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) waves. During last years, observational evidence about the damping of these oscillations has grown and several mechanisms able to damp these oscillations have been the subject of intense theoretical modelling. Among them, the most efficient seem to be radiative cooling and ion-neutral collisions. Radiative cooling is able to damp slow MHD waves efficiently, while ion-neutral collisions, in partially ionised plasmas like those of solar prominences, can also damp fast MHD waves. In this paper, we plan to summarize our current knowledge about the time and spatial damping of small-amplitude oscillations in prominences.     

MHD surface waves – a source of global magnetospheric modes (resonances)?

Various mechanisms have been proposed for explanation of the global magnetospheric modes whose frequency peaks are in the frequency range 1–4 mHz. Recent papers claim: basic characteristics of the 1–4 mHz activity events observed on ground give evidences for an existence of MHD surface mode excited on the Earth magnetopause. The discrete frequencies of such MHD surface wave modes suggest an emergence of standing wave structures along the magnetic field lines lying on the magnetopause. Such discrete frequencies of MHD surface waves on magnetopause however, are not stable, at all. Contrariwise, MHD surface wave modes supported by the two plasma boundaries – the magnetopause and the plasmapause, are in accordance with existing experimental facts: discrete set of almost stable frequencies, field amplitude peaks and positions, energy dissipation, and field distribution from high to low latitudes. Mechanisms of the global magnetospheric mode resonance are pointed out as well as tools for their identification and discrimination.     

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.      

无碰撞电流片哨声波不稳定性

通过数值求解文献[4]中物理模型A得到的一般形式的色散关系,讨论了无碰撞电流片低频波不稳定性问题.结果表明,哨声波能被无碰撞电流片直接激发.在中性片上(z/di=0),在较宽的波数范围内,斜哨声波是可以传播的,但它基本上是稳定的.在离子惯性区内(z/di<1,电子惯性区外),斜传播的哨声波是不稳定的.在离子惯性区边缘(z/di=1),斜传播的哨声波仍然是不稳定的,增长率更大,不稳定的波频率范围更高.此外,朝向中性片方向传播(kzdi<0)的哨声波比离开中性片方向传播(kzdi>0)的哨声波有更大的增长率.     

Some characteristics of propagation of flare- or CME-associated interplanetary shock waves

Many interplanetary shock waves have a fast mode MHD wave Mach number between one and two and the ambient solar wind plasma and magnetic field are known to fluctuate. Therefore a weak, fast, MHD interplanetary shock wave propagating into a fluctuating solar wind region or into a solar wind stream will be expected to vary its strength.It is possible that an interplanetary shock wave, upon entering such a region will weaken its strength and degenerate into a fast-mode MHD wave. It is even possible that the shock may dissipate and disappear.A model for the propagation of a solar flare - or CME (Coronal Mass Ejections) - associated interplanetary shock wave is given. A physical mechanism is described to calculate the probability that a weak shock which enters a turbulent solar wind region will degenerate into a MHD wave. That is, the shock would disappear as an entropy-generate entity. This model also suggests that most interplanetary shock waves cannot propagate continuously with a smooth shock surface. It is suggested that the surface of an interplanetary shock will be highly distorted and that parts of the shock surface can degenerate into MHD waves or even disappear during its global propagation through interplanetary space. A few observations to support this model will be briefly described.Finally, this model of shock propagation also applies to corotating shocks. As corotating shocks propagate into fluctuating ambient solar wind regions, shocks may degenerate into waves or disappear.     

具有不同等离子体β值的Hall MHD重联中的低频波研究

数值研究具有不同等离子体β值(等离子体热压与磁压之比)的Hall MHD重联过程.对于β值在0.5≤β≤6.5的算例,稳态重联率(6)A/(6)t|st为0.15≥(6)A/(6)t|st≥0.095.本文研究β值在上述范围内的Hall MHD重联中的波动.通过快速傅里叶变换(FFT),将平面外磁场By分量和xz平面内的速度分量vx,vz位于给定点的时间序列转换为功率谱.结果表明,By,vx,vz功率谱的频率范围为Ωci＜ω＜8Ωci,其中Ωci为离子回旋频率.随着β值增大,功率谱峰值能量降低,并且朝着低频端移动.对于电场E采用最小方差分析法(MVA)可以确定波的传播方向k,波矢k与局地磁场B之间的夹角α随β值增大而增大.对于β值最大的算例3(β=6.5),α＜28°.上述结果表明,k准平行于B.为了研究波的偏振特征,在垂直于k的平面内画出E的矢端图.三个算例的矢端图均表明,波动具有右旋偏振特征,在算例1(β=0.5)中矢端图为右旋椭圆偏振,而在算例2(β=2.5)和算例3(β=6.5)中矢端图变成复杂的右旋偏振图形,这些均为哨声波的典型特征.本文的研究为快速磁重联与哨声波之间提供了一种可能的联系.      

Effect of current sheets on the power spectrum of the solar wind magnetic field using a cell model

A puzzling observation of solar wind MHD turbulence is the often seen Kolmogorov scaling of k^-5/3$k^{-5/3}$, even though the solar wind MHD turbulence is dominated by Alfvénic fluctuations. Recently Li et al. (2011) proposed that the presence of current sheets may be the cause of the Kolmogorov scaling. Here, using a cell model of the solar wind we examine the effect of current sheets on the power spectrum of the solar wind magnetic field. We model the solar wind as multiple cells separated by current sheets. We prescribe the spectra of turbulent magnetic field in individual cells as IK-like and examine the spectra along trajectories that cross multiple boundaries. We find that these spectra become softer and are consistent with the Kolmogorov-scaling. Our finding supports our recent proposal of Li et al. (2011).     

Two energy release processes for CMEs: MHD catastrophe and magnetic reconnection

It remains an open question how magnetic energy is rapidly released in the solar corona so as to create solar explosions such as solar flares and coronal mass ejections (CMEs). Recent studies have confirmed that a system consisting of a flux rope embedded in a background field exhibits a catastrophic behavior, and the energy threshold at the catastrophic point may exceed the associated open field energy. The accumulated free energy in the corona is abruptly released when the catastrophe takes place, and it probably serves as the main means of energy release for CMEs at least in the initial phase. Such a release proceeds via an ideal MHD process in contrast with nonideal ones such as magnetic reconnection. The catastrophe results in a sudden formation of electric current sheets, which naturally provide proper sites for fast magnetic reconnection. The reconnection may be identified with a solar flare associated with the CME on one hand, and produces a further acceleration of the CME on the other. On this basis, several preliminary suggestions are made for future observational investigations, especially with the proposed Kuafa satellites, on the roles of the MHD catastrophe and magnetic reconnection in the magnetic energy release associated with CMEs and flares.     

Kink-like mode of a double gradient instability in a compressible plasma current sheet

A linear MHD instability of the electric current sheet, characterized by a small normal magnetic field component, varying along the sheet, is investigated. The tangential magnetic field component is modeled by a hyperbolic function, describing Harris-like variations of the field across the sheet. For this problem, which is formulated in a 3D domain, the conventional compressible ideal MHD equations are applied. By assuming Fourier harmonics along the electric current, the linearized 3D equations are reduced to 2D ones. A finite difference numerical scheme is applied to examine the time evolution of small initial perturbations of the plasma parameters. This work is an extended numerical study of the so called “double gradient instability”, – a possible candidate for the explanation of flapping oscillations in the magnetotail current sheet, which has been analyzed previously in the framework of a simplified analytical approach for an incompressible plasma. The dispersion curve is obtained for the kink-like mode of the instability. It is shown that this curve demonstrates a quantitative agreement with the previous analytical result. The development of the instability is investigated also for various enhanced values of the normal magnetic field component. It is found that the characteristic values of the growth rate of the instability shows a linear dependence on the square root of the parameter, which scales uniformly the normal component of the magnetic field in the current sheet.