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Hamiltonian vortices and reconnection in a magnetized plasma

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 June 1998

B. N. KUVSHINOV
Affiliation:
FOM–Instituut voor Plasmafysica ‘Rijnhuizen’, Association EURATOM–FOM, Postbus 1207, 3430 Nieuwegein, The Netherlands
V. P. LAKHIN
Affiliation:
FOM–Instituut voor Plasmafysica ‘Rijnhuizen’, Association EURATOM–FOM, Postbus 1207, 3430 Nieuwegein, The Netherlands
F. PEGORARO
Affiliation:
Physics Department, Pisa University, and INFM, Pisa, Italy
T. J. SCHEP
Affiliation:
FOM–Instituut voor Plasmafysica ‘Rijnhuizen’, Association EURATOM–FOM, Postbus 1207, 3430 Nieuwegein, The Netherlands

Abstract

Hamiltonian vortices and reconnection in magnetized plasmas are investigated analytically and numerically using a two-fluid model. The equations are written in the Lagrangian form of three fields that are advected with different velocities. This system can be considered as a generalization and extension of the two-dimensional Euler equation for an ordinary fluid. It is pointed out that these equations allow solutions in the form of singular current-vortex filaments, drift-Alfvén vortices and magnetic islands, and admit collisionless magnetic reconnection where magnetic flux is converted into electron momentum and ion vorticity.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
© 1998 Cambridge University Press

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