The geometry of magnetic and vortex reconnection

    Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapter

    Abstract

    Reconnection is an important process of structure formation in fluid dynamics, occurring in the form of vortex reconnection in hydrodynamics as well as in the form of magnetic reconnection in plasmas. There is a close analogy between the quantities involved in both phenomena but, surprisingly, the process of magnetic reconnection, although complicated by the presence of a magnetic field, is geometrically simpler than vortex reconnection; it may thus serve as good starting point to unde rstand the geometry of vortex reconnection. A general covariant definition of reconnection is given and, starting from a simple analytic model of magnetic reconnection, the basic process of reconnection is analyzed. The model is then modified to meet the additional constraints of vortex reconnection. It is shown that, although the evolution of the vorticity near the reconnection site is stationary and two-dimensional the flow velocity is inevitably three-dimensional, and time dependent. Explicit expressions for the reconnected flux and the reconnection time are given.
    Original languageEnglish
    Title of host publicationQuantized vortex dynamics and superfluid turbulence
    EditorsC. F. Barenghi, R. J. Donnelly, W. F. Vinen
    PublisherSpringer
    Pages373-379
    Number of pages7
    ISBN (Print)3540422269
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 2001

    Publication series

    NameLecture Notes in Physics
    Volume571

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