Modeling Collisionless Reconnection Onset and Thin Current Sheets in Earth's Magnetotail and Laboratory Plasmas

Investigator(s):

Mikhail Sitnov (PI) ; A. Surjalal Sharma (Co-PI)

Sponsor:

University of Maryland College Park, MD 20742 3014056269

Start Date/Expiration Date

2003-05-15 to 2006-04-30 (amended 2005-04-04)

Awarded Amount to Date:

$244,728

Abstract: This project will examine the onset and evolution of collisionless magnetic reconnection in plasmas. It will utilize a variety of techniques, including a finite-element stability analysis, particle simulations and new classes of self-consistent kinetic models of thin current sheets. The 1-D finite-element analysis will be extended to 2-D cases and will be used to locate the position of the initial X-line in plasma systems that are realistically representative of the earth's magnetotail. The studies of X-line reconnection onset will focus on the role played by transient electrons. Another form of reconnection, with the Y-line topology, becomes possible due to concentration of the current density in thin current sheets. In these cases, the onset of reconnection is driven by current instabilities and the reconnection is promoted via anomalous resistivity. These studies will be directly relevant to the problem of magnetospheric substorms, but the underlying basic plasma physics will make the results applicable to a broader range of plasma phenomena from laboratory experiments to astrophysical phenomena such as the magnetospheres of compact objects (neutron stars, black holes). The project will involve a graduate student.

NSF Org:

ATM - Division of Atmospheric Sciences

Award Number:

0317253

Award Instrument:

Continuing grant

Program Manager:

Kile B. Baker
ATM Division of Atmospheric Sciences
GEO Directorate for Geosciences

NSF Program(s):

INTERNATIONAL PLAN & WORKSHOPS, MAGNETOSPHERIC PHYSICS

Field Application(s):

Space

Program Reference Code(s):

BASIC PLASMA SCIENCE & ENGINEERING, 1062
CENTRAL & EASTERN EUROPE PROGR, 5979
INTERDISCIPLINARY PROPOSALS, 4444
UNASSIGNED, 0000
US/USSR ACTIVITIES, 5939

Program Element Code(s):

7299
MAGNETOSPHERIC PHYSICS, 5750