The influence of boundary conditions on the distribution of energetic electrons during collisionless magnetic reconnection
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Published:2023-11-16
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ISSN:1009-0630
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Container-title:Plasma Science and Technology
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language:
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Short-container-title:Plasma Sci. Technol.
Author:
Wang LeiORCID,
Huang Can,
Chen Dongke,
Yang Zhongwei,
Du Aimin,
Ge Yasong
Abstract
Abstract
We conducted 2-D particle-in-cell simulations to investigate the impact of boundary conditions on the evolution of magnetic reconnection. The results demonstrate that the boundary conditions are crucial to this evolution. Specifically, in the cases of traditional periodic boundary (PB) and fully-opened boundary (OB) conditions, the evolutions are quite similar before the system achieves the fastest reconnection rate. However, differences emerge between the two cases afterward. In the PB case, the reconnection electric field experiences a rapid decline and even becomes negative, indicating a reversal of the reconnection process. In contrast, the system maintains a fast reconnection stage in the OB case. Suprathermal electrons are generated near the separatrix and in the exhaust region of both simulation cases. In the electron density depletion layer and the dipolarization front region, a larger proportion of suprathermal electrons are produced in the OB case. Medium-energy electrons are mainly located in the vicinity of the X-line and downstream of the reconnection site in both cases. However, in the OB case, they can also be generated in the electron holes along the separatrix. Before the reverse reconnection stage, no high-energy electrons are present in the PB case. In contrast, about 20% of the electrons in the thin and elongated electron current layer are high-energy in the OB case.
Funder
National Key Research and Development Program of China
National Natural Science Foundation of China
Key Research Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences
Youth Innovation Promotion Association, Chinese Academy of Sciences
Subject
Condensed Matter Physics