Outstanding Questions and Future Research on Magnetic Reconnection

R. Nakamura; J. L. Burch; J. Birn; L. J. Chen; D. B. Graham; F. Guo; K. J. Hwang; H. Ji; Y. V. Khotyaintsev; Y. H. Liu; M. Oka; D. Payne; M. I. Sitnov; M. Swisdak; S. Zenitani; J. F. Drake; S. A. Fuselier; K. J. Genestreti; D. J. Gershman; H. Hasegawa; M. Hoshino; C. Norgren; M. A. Shay; J. R. Shuster; J. E. Stawarz

doi:10.1007/s11214-025-01143-z

Outstanding Questions and Future Research on Magnetic Reconnection

R. Nakamura
, J. L. Burch
, J. Birn
, L. J. Chen
, D. B. Graham
, F. Guo
, K. J. Hwang
, H. Ji
, Y. V. Khotyaintsev
, Y. H. Liu
, M. Oka
, D. Payne
, M. I. Sitnov
, M. Swisdak
, S. Zenitani
, J. F. Drake
, S. A. Fuselier
, K. J. Genestreti
, D. J. Gershman
, H. Hasegawa

M. Hoshino, C. Norgren, M. A. Shay, J. R. Shuster, J. E. Stawarz

Astrophysical Sciences

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

7 Scopus citations

Abstract

This short article highlights unsolved problems of magnetic reconnection in collisionless plasma. Advanced in-situ plasma measurements and simulations have enabled scientists to gain a novel understanding of magnetic reconnection. Nevertheless, outstanding questions remain concerning the complex dynamics and structures in the diffusion region, cross-scale and regional couplings, the onset of magnetic reconnection, and the details of particle energization. We discuss future directions for magnetic reconnection research, including new observations, new simulations, and interdisciplinary approaches.

Original language	English (US)
Article number	17
Journal	Space Science Reviews
Volume	221
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/s11214-025-01143-z
State	Published - Feb 2025

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

Astronomy and Astrophysics
Space and Planetary Science

Keywords

Cross-scale
Diffusion region
Energetics
Magnetic reconnection
Magnetospheric Multiscale (MMS) mission
Onset

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10.1007/s11214-025-01143-z

Cite this

Nakamura, R., Burch, J. L., Birn, J., Chen, L. J., Graham, D. B., Guo, F., Hwang, K. J., Ji, H., Khotyaintsev, Y. V., Liu, Y. H., Oka, M., Payne, D., Sitnov, M. I., Swisdak, M., Zenitani, S., Drake, J. F., Fuselier, S. A., Genestreti, K. J., Gershman, D. J., ... Stawarz, J. E. (2025). Outstanding Questions and Future Research on Magnetic Reconnection. Space Science Reviews, 221(1), Article 17. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11214-025-01143-z

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title = "Outstanding Questions and Future Research on Magnetic Reconnection",

abstract = "This short article highlights unsolved problems of magnetic reconnection in collisionless plasma. Advanced in-situ plasma measurements and simulations have enabled scientists to gain a novel understanding of magnetic reconnection. Nevertheless, outstanding questions remain concerning the complex dynamics and structures in the diffusion region, cross-scale and regional couplings, the onset of magnetic reconnection, and the details of particle energization. We discuss future directions for magnetic reconnection research, including new observations, new simulations, and interdisciplinary approaches.",

keywords = "Cross-scale, Diffusion region, Energetics, Magnetic reconnection, Magnetospheric Multiscale (MMS) mission, Onset",

author = "R. Nakamura and Burch, \{J. L.\} and J. Birn and Chen, \{L. J.\} and Graham, \{D. B.\} and F. Guo and Hwang, \{K. J.\} and H. Ji and Khotyaintsev, \{Y. V.\} and Liu, \{Y. H.\} and M. Oka and D. Payne and Sitnov, \{M. I.\} and M. Swisdak and S. Zenitani and Drake, \{J. F.\} and Fuselier, \{S. A.\} and Genestreti, \{K. J.\} and Gershman, \{D. J.\} and H. Hasegawa and M. Hoshino and C. Norgren and Shay, \{M. A.\} and Shuster, \{J. R.\} and Stawarz, \{J. E.\}",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} The Author(s) 2025.",

year = "2025",

month = feb,

doi = "10.1007/s11214-025-01143-z",

language = "English (US)",

volume = "221",

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Nakamura, R, Burch, JL, Birn, J, Chen, LJ, Graham, DB, Guo, F, Hwang, KJ, Ji, H, Khotyaintsev, YV, Liu, YH, Oka, M, Payne, D, Sitnov, MI, Swisdak, M, Zenitani, S, Drake, JF, Fuselier, SA, Genestreti, KJ, Gershman, DJ, Hasegawa, H, Hoshino, M, Norgren, C, Shay, MA, Shuster, JR & Stawarz, JE 2025, 'Outstanding Questions and Future Research on Magnetic Reconnection', Space Science Reviews, vol. 221, no. 1, 17. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11214-025-01143-z

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AU - Nakamura, R.

AU - Burch, J. L.

AU - Birn, J.

AU - Chen, L. J.

AU - Graham, D. B.

AU - Guo, F.

AU - Hwang, K. J.

AU - Ji, H.

AU - Khotyaintsev, Y. V.

AU - Liu, Y. H.

AU - Oka, M.

AU - Payne, D.

AU - Sitnov, M. I.

AU - Swisdak, M.

AU - Zenitani, S.

AU - Drake, J. F.

AU - Fuselier, S. A.

AU - Genestreti, K. J.

AU - Gershman, D. J.

AU - Hasegawa, H.

AU - Hoshino, M.

AU - Norgren, C.

AU - Shay, M. A.

AU - Shuster, J. R.

AU - Stawarz, J. E.

PY - 2025/2

Y1 - 2025/2

N2 - This short article highlights unsolved problems of magnetic reconnection in collisionless plasma. Advanced in-situ plasma measurements and simulations have enabled scientists to gain a novel understanding of magnetic reconnection. Nevertheless, outstanding questions remain concerning the complex dynamics and structures in the diffusion region, cross-scale and regional couplings, the onset of magnetic reconnection, and the details of particle energization. We discuss future directions for magnetic reconnection research, including new observations, new simulations, and interdisciplinary approaches.

AB - This short article highlights unsolved problems of magnetic reconnection in collisionless plasma. Advanced in-situ plasma measurements and simulations have enabled scientists to gain a novel understanding of magnetic reconnection. Nevertheless, outstanding questions remain concerning the complex dynamics and structures in the diffusion region, cross-scale and regional couplings, the onset of magnetic reconnection, and the details of particle energization. We discuss future directions for magnetic reconnection research, including new observations, new simulations, and interdisciplinary approaches.

KW - Cross-scale

KW - Diffusion region

KW - Energetics

KW - Magnetic reconnection

KW - Magnetospheric Multiscale (MMS) mission

KW - Onset

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JO - Space Science Reviews

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ER -

Outstanding Questions and Future Research on Magnetic Reconnection

Abstract

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

Keywords

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