Magnetic Reconnection - Plasmoid Instability in an Experimentally Accessible Regime by Pallavi Bhat

Explore magnetic reconnection and plasmoid instability in an hour-long lecture by Pallavi Bhat from the International Centre for Theoretical Sciences. Delve into the fundamental plasma physics phenomenon relevant to laboratory, space, and astrophysical systems. Learn about the Sweet-Parker model, tearing mode instability, and the semi-collisional regime. Examine theoretical predictions and numerical simulations using a reduced gyrokinetic model. Discover how plasmoid instability arises at lower, experimentally accessible Lundquist numbers. Gain insights into the reconnection phase diagram, simulation setups, and validation of the semi-collisional regime. Investigate current sheet scaling, wavenumber scaling, and the potential for observing plasmoids in experiments at low Lundquist numbers. Conclude with a summary of findings and future research directions in this critical area of plasma physics.

Magnetic reconnection: plasmid instability in an experimentally accessible regime
Outline
Introduction to magnetic reconnection - Sweet-Parker model 1956
Plasmid Instability
Plasmid Instability - multiple X-line reconnection
Tearing mode instability : spontaneous reconnection
Tearing mode theory
Tearing mode instability : nonlinear regime
Reconnection phase diagram
Reconnection phase diagram zoomed in
Semi-collisional regime
Plasmid instability scalings in semi-collisional regime
Plasmid instability in semi-collisional regime
Simulation Setup
Sequence of events in the simulation
Simulation : S = 2997, L/p3=76.7 Run G
Validation of semi-collisional regime
Do current sheets scale as Sweet-Parker?
Wavenumber scaling
Plasmids seen in experiments at low S?
Summary and future plans