Charged current layers are electrostatically unstable with Bernstein waves redistributing charge and altering tearing, producing mildly charged plasmoids in Harris sheets and faster tearing in some rotational cases.
Zenitani and author M
3 Pith papers cite this work. Polarity classification is still indexing.
3
Pith papers citing it
abstract
We study linear and nonlinear development of relativistic and ultrarelativistic current sheets of pair plasmas with antiparallel magnetic fields. Two types of two-dimensional problems are investigated by particle-in-cell simulations. First, we present the development of relativistic magnetic reconnection, whose outflow speed is an order of the light speed c. It is demonstrated that particles are strongly accelerated in and around the reconnection region, and that most of magnetic energy is converted into "nonthermal" part of plasma kinetic energy. Second, we present another two-dimensional problem of a current sheet in a cross-field plane. In this case, the relativistic drift kink instability (RDKI) occurs. Particle acceleration also takes place, but the RDKI fast dissipates the magnetic energy into plasma heat. We discuss the mechanism of particle acceleration and the theory of the RDKI in detail. It is important that properties of these two processes are similar in the relativistic regime of T > mc^2, as long as we consider the kinetics. Comparison of the two processes indicates that magnetic dissipation by the RDKI is more favorable process in the relativistic current sheet. Therefore the striped pulsar wind scenario should be reconsidered by the RDKI.
fields
astro-ph.HE 3verdicts
UNVERDICTED 3representative citing papers
2D radiative PIC simulations show multi-sheet reconnection in relativistic pair plasma evolving into Kolmogorov-like turbulence that provides secondary particle acceleration while keeping the high-energy spectrum steep.
Centrifugal and gravitational forces both raise magnetic reconnection rates near Kerr black holes, with gravity separating charges and centrifugal force shortening the current sheet via curved geometry seen by a comoving observer.
citing papers explorer
-
Tearing of charged current layers
Charged current layers are electrostatically unstable with Bernstein waves redistributing charge and altering tearing, producing mildly charged plasmoids in Harris sheets and faster tearing in some rotational cases.
-
Radiative PIC simulations of relativistic pair plasma: multiple interacting current sheets and turbulent evolution
2D radiative PIC simulations show multi-sheet reconnection in relativistic pair plasma evolving into Kolmogorov-like turbulence that provides secondary particle acceleration while keeping the high-energy spectrum steep.
-
Magnetic reconnection under centrifugal and gravitational electromotive forces
Centrifugal and gravitational forces both raise magnetic reconnection rates near Kerr black holes, with gravity separating charges and centrifugal force shortening the current sheet via curved geometry seen by a comoving observer.