Year: 2024
Type: article
Abstract: Magnetic reconnection is the key to explosive phenomena in the universe. The flux rope is crucial in three‐dimensional magnetic reconnection theory and is commonly considered to be generated by secondary tearing mode instability. Here we show that the parallel electron flow moving toward the reconnection diffusion region can spontaneously form flux ropes. The electron flows form parallel current tubes in the separatrix region where the observational parameters suggest the tearing and Kelvin‐Helmholtz instabilities are suppressed. The spontaneously formed flux ropes could indicate the importance of electron dynamics in a three‐dimensional reconnection region.
DOI: 10.1029/2024ja033461
Institutions: Shandong University, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Institute of Geology and Geophysics, Peking University, Space Sciences Laboratory, University of California, Berkeley, Northumbria University, University of California, Los Angeles, Southwest Research Institute, Goddard Space Flight Center
Language: English
Subfield: Astronomy and Astrophysics
Field: Physics and Astronomy
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W4405823071