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Fast magnetic field-line reconnexion in a compressible fluid. Part 1. Coplanar field lines

  • A. M. Soward (a1) and E. R. Priest (a2)

Abstract

The Petschek model for incompressible reconnexion has been put on a firm mathematical foundation in an earlier paper by Soward & Priest, who discovered a ‘local’ similarity solution for the process. The present paper extends that analysis to compressible reconnexion, in which the previous Alfvén waves are replaced by slow magneto-acoustic shocks of switch-off type. By contrast with a previous suggestion, it is found unnecessary to include intermediate waves standing ahead of the slow shocks. The maximum reconnexion rate is typically half of Petschek's stated value, though faster rates are achieved when the external gas pressure is sufficiently low.

Copyright

COPYRIGHT: © Cambridge University Press 1982

References

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Chu, C. K. & Grad, H. 1966 Research frontiers in fluid mechanics (ed. Seger, R. J. & Temple, G.), p. 308. Interscience.
Green, R. M. & Sweet, P. A. 1966 Astrophys. J. 147, 1153.
Petschek, H. E. 1964 AAS-NASA Symposium, Physics of Solar Flares, NASA SP-50, p. 425.
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Priest, E. R. & Soward, A. M. 1976 Proceedings of 71st IAU Symposium: Basic mechanisms of solar activity (ed. Bumba, V. & Kleezek, J.), p. 353. Reidel.
Sonnerup, B. U. Ö. 1970 J. Plasma Phys. 4, 161.
Soward, A. M. & Priest, E. R. 1977 Phil. Trans. Roy. Soc. A 284, 369.
Soward, A. M. 1982 J. Plasma Phys. (To be published.)
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  • Cited by 46

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Fast magnetic field-line reconnexion in a compressible fluid. Part 1. Coplanar field lines

  • A. M. Soward (a1) and E. R. Priest (a2)

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