Collisionless reconnection in an electron-positron plasma

N. Bessho, A. Bhattacharjee

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

95 Scopus citations

Abstract

Electromagnetic particle-in-cell simulations of fast collisionless reconnection in a two-dimensional electron-positron plasma (without an equilibrium guide field) are presented. A generalized Ohmâ™s law in which the Hall current cancels out exactly is given. It is suggested that the key to fast reconnection in this plasma is the localization caused by the off-diagonal components of the pressure tensors, which produce an effect analogous to a spatially localized resistivity.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number245001
JournalPhysical review letters
Volume95
Issue number24
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 9 2005
Externally publishedYes

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • General Physics and Astronomy

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