The Role of the Guide Field in Relativistic Pair Plasma Reconnection

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dc.creatorZenitani, S.
dc.creatorHoshino, M.
dc.date2007-12-12
dc.date2008-03-28
dc.date.accessioned2026-07-07T09:28:44Z
dc.date.available2026-07-07T09:28:44Z
dc.descriptionWe study the role of the guide field in relativistic magnetic reconnection in a Harris current sheet of pair ($e^{\pm}$) plasmas, using linear theories and particle-in-cell (PIC) simulations. Two-dimensional PIC simulations exhibit the guide field dependence to the linear instabilities; the tearing or reconnection modes are relatively insensitive, while the relativistic drift-kink instability (RDKI), the fastest mode in a relativistic current sheet, is stabilized by the guide field. Particle acceleration in the nonlinear stage is also investigated. A three-dimensional PIC simulation demonstrates that the current sheet is unstable to the RDKI, although small reconnection occurs in the deformed current sheet. Another three-dimensional PIC simulation with a guide field demonstrates a completely different scenario. Secondary magnetic reconnection is triggered by nonlinear coupling of oblique instabilities, which we call the relativistic drift-sausage tearing instability. Therefore, particle acceleration by relativistic guide field reconnection occurs in three-dimensional configuration. Based on the plasma theories, we discuss an important role of the guide field: to enable non-thermal particle acceleration by magnetic reconnection.
dc.descriptionAstrophysical Journal, 677, 530; 35 pages, 15 figures
dc.identifierhttps://arxiv.org/abs/0712.2016
dc.identifierhttp://arxiv.org/abs/0712.2016
dc.identifierdoi:10.1086/528708
dc.identifier.urihttp://salesiana.dossiersoluciones.com/handle/123456789/157531
dc.subjectAstrophysics
dc.titleThe Role of the Guide Field in Relativistic Pair Plasma Reconnection
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