Characterizing magnetic reconnection in asymmetric current sheet

Abstract

Physically speaking, magnetic reconnection is a cornerstone phenomenon of plasmas. During this process, the magnetic field permeating a conduc tive plasma rapidly rearranges itself, and releases energy and accelerates particles. Reconnection can take place in a variety of di↵erent astrophysi cal plasma environments as well as in laboratory plasmas. In space plasma, the conditions for reconnections are typically not symmetric on either side of the di↵usion region. Previous theoretical studies of the plasmoid insta bility typically assume symmetric reconnecting magnetic fields. We loosen up this assumption by simulating the plasmoid instability during asym metric inflow magnetic reconnection in two dimensions three component using kinetic model with the help of a Particle-In-Cell named Smilei (Der ouillat et al., 2018). The study results that are presented here contribute to an advancement in our understanding of the process by which recon nections occur in asymmetrical environments. The investigation focused on analyzing the relationship between the degree of asymmetry and the rate of reconnection, as well as the variation in energy distribution.