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.     

电流片的稳定性问题

本文从理想磁流体力学出发,分析了固结在光球层上的半圆弧形电流片的线性稳定性。主要结论是:当沿电流方向的磁场小于某临界值时,电流片将不稳定,且最先引起不稳定的扰动模沿电流方向的波数近似为电流片圆弧直径的倒数。      

A fast tearing mode instability driven by agyrotropic electron pressure

The collisionless plasma environment at the current sheet of the Earth’s magnetotail is subjected to fast dynamic evolutions such as tearing instability. By considering agyrotropic pressure for electron and ion components of a collisionless plasma, we analytically investigate the dynamics of tearing mode instability, in which, breaking the frozen-in condition can either be provided by the electron inertia or by agyrotropic electron pressure. A set of linearized Hall-Magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) equations describes the evolution of tearing mode in a sheared force-free field. The presented scaling analysis shows that if the plasma-β$\beta$ exceeds a specified value, then the main mechanism of magnetic reconnection process is the nongyrotropic electron pressure. In this regime, the role played by agyrotropic ion pressure inside the reconnection layer is out of significance. Therefore, the electron-MHD framework, adequately, describes the dynamics of tearing instability with a growth rate which is much faster compared to the cases with a dominated bulk inertia or a gyrotropic plasma pressure.     

Reconnection in multiple current sheet configurations in the solar corona

We investigate magnetic reconnection in a multiple current sheet configuration by means of three-dimensional resistive MHD simulations. This configuration might be of interest in the solar corona context, e.g. for coronal helmet streamers. We present results of our simulations of the linear and nonlinear development of the tearing mode instability. In particular, we highlight the changes in magnetic topology and the resulting plasma dynamics. Our results indicate that reconnection in complex coronal neighboring magnetic flux systems efficiently converts magnetic field energy into thermal energy and leads to small-scale tongue outflows rather than large-scale coronal mass ejections.     

Evolution of electron energy spectrum during solar flares

Particle acceleration by direct current electric field in the current sheet has been extensively studied, in which an electric and a magnetic field are generally prescribed, and a power law distribution of the electron energy is obtained. Based on MHD numerical simulations of flares, this paper aims at investigating the time evolution of the electron energy spectrum during solar flares. It turns out that the model reproduces the soft–hard–hard spectral feature which was observed in some flares.     

电流片的形成

采用二维三分量的耗散磁流体力学模型,对由于光球层的剪切运动引起的四极磁场内电流片的形成过程进行数值模拟。结果表明,磁分隔线在磁场的演化过程中起关键作用。电流主要在分隔面和根部剪切梯度较大的磁环中形成,其中在分隔线上最强。磁分隔线可以被拉长,形成强电流片,随着速度剪切位置的不同,电流片的形成模式也不同,既可以形成与光球层垂直的电流片,也可以形成平行的电流片。      

Magnetic reconnection in a high-temperature plasma of solar flares

In the frame of a simple self-consistent model for high-temperature turbulent current sheet (HTCS) /1/, three effects are considered. (i) Gradient instabilities create anamalous plasma diffusion across magnetic field and increase the power of energy release in HTCS. (ii) Penetration of a small transverse component of magnetic field into HTCS also can significantly increase an energy output of HTCS. (iii) There appears electric current circulating around a current sheet at a compression of longitudinal magnetic field. This current induces a Joule heat; however, a total flux of the longitudinal field remains constant.     

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).     

Lax-Friderichs格式在磁流体模拟中的改进和应用

磁流体数值模拟是空间物理研究的重要手段.采用具有TVD（Total Variation Diminishing）特性的Lax-Friderichs差分格式求解了GLM-MHD（Generalized Lagrange Multiplier-Magnetohydrodynamics）方程.为降低格式的数值耗散,引入耗散修正系数对算法的通量计算过程进行改进.二维Rotor算例和磁云-电流片相互作用算例的模拟结果表明,GLM-MHD方法可以有效控制磁场散度误差,相对于泊松校正法可以节省一半以上的计算时间.在不破坏格式稳定性基础上,耗散修正系数有效降低了算法的数值耗散.      

Evolution of magnetic fields and cosmic ray acceleration in supernova remnants

Observations show that the magnetic field in young supernova remnants (SNRs) is significantly stronger than can be expected from the compression of the circumstellar medium (CSM) by a factor of four expected for strong blast waves. Additionally, the polarization is mainly radial, which is also contrary to expectation from compression of the CSM magnetic field. Cosmic rays (CRs) may help to explain these two observed features. They can increase the compression ratio to factors well over those of regular strong shocks by adding a relativistic plasma component to the pressure, and by draining the shock of energy when CRs escape from the region. The higher compression ratio will also allow for the contact discontinuity, which is subject to the Rayleigh–Taylor (R–T) instability, to reach much further out to the forward shock. This could create a preferred radial polarization of the magnetic field. With an Adaptive Mesh Refinement MHD code (AMRVAC), we simulate the evolution of SNRs with three different configurations of the initial CSM magnetic field, and look at two different equations of state in order to look at the possible influence of a CR plasma component. The spectrum of CRs can be simulated using test particles, of which we also show some preliminary results that agree well with available analytical solutions.     

Current sheets in the solar atmosphere

The 2D and 3D numerical simulation is used for the investigation of current sheet (CS) creation above the active region. The current sheet in the solar corona can be created either in vicinity of a magnetic field singular line by focusing disturbances or at the interaction of the super-Alfvenic plasma flow with the perpendicular magnetic field.     

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.     

电阻磁流体力学模拟的CESE方法

利用时空守恒元解元方法(CESE)和两种改进方法, 即库朗数不敏感(CNIS)方法与高阶CESE方法求解2.5维电阻磁流体力学(resistive MHD)方程组, 模拟了两个单电流片重联问题. 并考察了上述三种方法所得结果的磁场散度. 分析表明, 三种方法所得到的磁场位形基本没有差别, 但在磁场散度上存在一定差异, 相比另外两种方法, CNIS方法在控制磁场散度方面表现得更好.      

MHD simulation of magnetic field configuration above the active region NOAA 10365

The current sheet (CS) creation before a flare in the vicinity of a singular line above the active region NOAA 10365 is shown in numerical experiments. Such a way the possibility of energy accumulation for a solar flare is demonstrated. These data and results of observation confirm the electrodynamical solar flare model that explains solar flares and CME appearance during CS disruption. The model explains also all phenomena observed in flares. For correct reproduction of the real boundary conditions the magnetic flux between spots should be taken into account. The full system of 3D MHD equations are solved using the PERESVET code. For setting the boundary conditions the method of photospheric magnetic maps is used. Such a method permits to take into account all evolution of photospherical magnetic field during several days before the flare.     

Controlling factors of Region 2 field-aligned current and its relationship to the ring current: Model results

One essential component of magnetosphere and ionosphere coupling is the closure of the ring current through Region 2 field-aligned current (FAC). Using the Comprehensive Ring Current Model (CRCM), which includes magnetosphere and ionosphere coupling by solving the kinetic equation of ring current particles and the closure of the electric currents between the two regions, we have investigated the effects of high latitude potential, ionospheric conductivity, plasma sheet density and different magnetic field models on the development of Region 2 field-aligned currents, and the relationship between R2 FACs and the ring current. It is shown that an increase in high latitude potential, ionospheric conductivity or plasma sheet density generally results in an increase in Region 2 FACs’ intensity, but R2 FACs display different local time and latitudinal distributions for changes in each parameter due to the different mechanisms involved. Our simulation results show that the magnetic field configuration of the inner magnetosphere is also an important factor in the development of Region 2 field-aligned current. More numerical experiments and observational results are needed in further our understanding of the complex relationship of the two current systems.     

晨昏电场对磁亚暴触发的影响

本文讨论了晨昏电场存在时磁尾等离子体片内撕裂模不稳定性的激发和增长问题。得到的结果可以用来解释晨昏电场对磁亚暴的触发以及加快等离子体片贮存能量的耗散等现象。我们推导了存在电场漂移时的撕裂模方程,并在均匀电流片模型下求解了该方程的解析解。结果表明触发不稳定性所允许的临界电流片宽度与电场大小近似成正比,这表明考虑晨昏电场效应后磁亚暴更易被激发。此外对于厚度相同的电流片来说,长波撕裂模的增长率也随晨昏电场的加强而增大。      

Mini-magnetosphere: Laboratory experiment,physical model and Hall MHD simulation

Magnetosphere with a size comparable to the ion kinetic scales is investigated by means of laboratory experiment, analytical analysis and Hall MHD simulation. In experiment a specific magnetic field was observed which is non-coplanar to dipole field, does not change sign at dipole moment inversion and could be generated only via the quadratic Hall term. Magnetopause position and plasma stand off distance were found to be profoundly different between the experimental regimes with small and large ion inertia length. In the previous studies of a mini-magnetosphere by kinetic codes such novel features were observed as absence of the bow shock and plasma stopping at the Stoermer particle limit instead of the pressure balance distance. Proposed analytical model explains these features by Hall currents which tend to cancel magnetic field convection by ions. Performed numerical simulation shows a good agreement with experiment and analytical model. It gives detailed spatial structure of the Hall field and reveals that while ions penetrate deep inside mini-magnetosphere electrons overflow around it along magnetopause boundary.     

CRIT II electric, magnetic, and density observations in an ionizing neutral jet

Measurements inside a high velocity neutral barium beam show a factor of six increase in plasma density in a moving ionizing front. This region was co-located with intense electric fields (δE ≈ 300 mV/m²) perpendicular to the local geomagnetic field and field aligned currents all fluctuating at frequencies well under the lower hybrid frequency for barium but above the oxygen cycloton frequency. It was determined that these structures were moving with the barium stream near the neutral barium velocity. Large quasi-dc electric and magnetic field fluctuations were also detected. The heart of the ionizing front, a cross beam current of nearly 10 mA/m², was estimated from the magnetic field variation. This is three orders of magnitude higher than typical auroral zone currents associated with auroral arcs. This current sheet was co-located with fluxes of soft electrons which saturated the particle detector. An Alfvén wave with a finite electric field component parallel to the geomagnetic field was observed to propagate along B_o where it was detected by an instrumented sub-payload.     

平面磁流体波穿透圆柱面分层赤道电离层和大气层的理论

给出了平面磁流体快波穿透圆柱面分层模型的赤道电离层和大气层的理论．平面磁流体快波被分解成柱面波,柱面波在圆柱分层介质中的传播被化为一个两点边值问题,给出了所需统治方程和边界条件．