The role of the Weibel instability at the reconnection jet front in relativistic pair plasma reconnection

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dc.creatorZenitani, S.
dc.creatorHesse, M.
dc.date2007-12-12
dc.date2008-06-29
dc.date.accessioned2026-07-07T09:47:01Z
dc.date.available2026-07-07T09:47:01Z
dc.descriptionThe role of the Weibel instability is investigated for the first time in the context of the large-scale magnetic reconnection problem. A late-time evolution of magnetic reconnection in relativistic pair plasmas is demonstrated by particle-in-cell (PIC) simulations. In the outflow regions, powerful reconnection jet piles up the magnetic fields and then a tangential discontinuity appears there. Further downstream, it is found that the two-dimensional extension of the relativistic Weibel instability generates electro-magnetic fields, which are comparable to the anti-parallel or piled-up fields. In a microscopic viewpoint, the instability allows plasma's multiple interactions with the discontinuity. In a macroscopic viewpoint, the instability leads to rapid expansion of the current sheet and then the reconnection jet front further propagates into the downstream. Possible application to the three-dimensional case is briefly discussed.
dc.description25 pages, 9 figures; References and typos are fixed
dc.identifierhttps://arxiv.org/abs/0712.1963
dc.identifierhttp://arxiv.org/abs/0712.1963
dc.identifierPhysics of Plasmas, 15, 022101, 2008
dc.identifierdoi:10.1063/1.2836623
dc.identifier.urihttp://salesiana.dossiersoluciones.com/handle/123456789/163725
dc.subjectAstrophysics
dc.titleThe role of the Weibel instability at the reconnection jet front in relativistic pair plasma reconnection
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