Probing the peripheral self-generated magnetic field distribution in laser-plasma magnetic reconnection with Martin-Puplett interferometer polarimeter

Magnetic reconnection of the self-generated magnetic fields in laser-plasma interaction is an important laboratory method for modeling high-energy density astronomical and astrophysical phenomena.We use the Martin-Puplett interferometer(MPI)polarimeter to probe the peripheral magnetic fields generated in the common magnetic reconnection configuration,two separated coplanar plane targets,in laser-target interaction.We introduce a new method that can obtain polarization information from the interference pattern instead of the sinusoidal function fitting of the intensity.A bidirectional magnetic field is observed from the side view,which is consistent with the magneto-hydro-dynamical(MHD)simulation results of self-generated magnetic field reconnection.We find that the cancellation of reverse magnetic fields after averaging and integration along the observing direction could reduce the magnetic field strength by one to two orders of magnitude.It indicates that imaging resolution can significantly affect the accuracy of measured magnetic field strength.

Three-dimensional magnetic reconnection in complex multiple X-point configurations in an ancient solar-lunar terrestrial system

Magnetic reconnection processes in three-dimensional(3D)complex field configurations have been investigated in different magneto-plasma systems in space,laboratory,and astrophysical systems.Two-dimensional(2D)features of magnetic reconnection have been well developed and applied successfully to systems with symmetrical property,such as toroidal fusion plasmas and laboratory experiments with an axial symmetry.But in asymmetric systems,the 3D features are inevitably different from those in the 2D case.Magnetic reconnection structures in multiple celestial body systems,particularly star-planet-Moon systems,bring fresh insights to the understanding of the 3D geometry of reconnection.Thus,we take magnetic reconnection in an ancient solar-lunar terrestrial magneto-plasma system as an example by using its crucial parameters approximately estimated already and also some specific applications in pathways for energy and matter transports among Earth,ancient Moon,and the interplanetary magnetic field(IMF).Then,magnetic reconnection of the ancient lunar-terrestrial magnetospheres with the IMF is investigated numerically in this work.In a 3D simulation for the Earth-Moon-IMF system,topological features of complex magnetic reconnection configurations and dynamical characteristics of magnetic reconnection processes are studied.It is found that a coupled lunar-terrestrial magnetosphere is formed,and under various IMF orientations,multiple X-points emerge at distinct locations,showing three typical magnetic reconnection structures in such a geometry,i.e.,the X-line,the triple current sheets,and the A-B null pairs.The results can conduce to further understanding of reconnection physics in 3D for plasmas in complex magnetic configurations,and also a possible mechanism for energy and matters transport in evolutions of similar astrophysical systems.

Ion and electron motions in the outer electron diffusion region of collisionless magnetic reconnection

Two-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations are performed to study the coupling between ion and electron motions in collisionless magnetic reconnection.The electron diffusion region(EDR),where the electron motions are demagnetized,is found to have a two-layer structure:an inner EDR near the reconnection site and an outer EDR that is elongated to nearly 10 ion inertial lengths in the outflow direction.In the inner EDR,the speed of the electron outflow increases when the electrons move away from the X line.In the outer EDR,the speed of the electron outflow first increases and then decreases until the electrons reach the boundary of the outer EDR.In the boundary of the outer EDR,the magnetic field piles up and forms a depolarization front.From the perspective of the fluid,a force analysis on the formation of electron and ion outflows has also been investigated.Around the X line,the electrons are accelerated by the reconnection electric field in the out-of-plane direction.When the electrons move away from the X line,we find that the Lorentz force converts the direction of the accelerated electrons to the x direction,forming an electron outflow.Both electric field forces and electron gradient forces tend to drag the electron outflow.Ion acceleration along the x direction is caused by the Lorentz force,whereas the pressure gradient force tends to decelerate the ion outflow.Although these two terms are important,their effects on ions are almost offset.The Hall electric field force does positive work on ions and is not negligible.The ions are continuously accelerated,and the ion and electron outflow velocities are almost the same near the depolarization front.

The influence of boundary conditions on the distribution of energetic electrons during collisionless magnetic reconnection

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.

Evidence of guide field magnetic reconnection in flapping current sheets

Based on current sheet flapping motion on 27 August 2018 in the dusk flank magnetotail,as recorded by instruments aboard Magnetospheric Multiscale(MMS)spacecraft,we present the first study of guide field reconnection observed in the flux rope embedded in kink-like flapping current sheets near the dusk-side flank of the magnetotail.Unlike more common magnetotail reconnections,which are symmetric,these asymmetric small-scale(λ_(i)~650 km)reconnections were found in the highly twisted current sheet when the direction normal to the sheet changes from the Z direction into the Y direction.The unique feature of this unusual reconnection is that the reconnection jets are along the Z direction-different from outflow in the X direction,which is the more usual situation.This vertical reconnection jet is parallel or antiparallel to the up-and-down motion of the tail’s current sheet.The normalized reconnection rate R is estimated to be~0.1.Our results indicate that such asymmetric reconnections can significantly enlarge current sheet flapping,with large oscillation amplitudes.This letter presents direct evidence of guide field reconnection in a highly twisted current sheet,characterized by enlarged current sheet flapping as a consequence of the reconnection outflow.

Numerical Studies of Magnetic Reconnection and Heating Mechanisms for the Ellerman Bomb

An Ellerman Bomb(EB)is a kind of small scale reconnection event,which is ubiquitously formed in the upper photosphere or the lower chromosphere.The low temperature(<10,000 K)and high density(~1019–1022)plasma there makes the magnetic reconnection process strongly influenced by partially ionized effects and radiative cooling.This work studies the highβmagnetic reconnection near the solar temperature minimum region based on high-resolution 2.5D magnetohydrodynamics simulations.The time-dependent ionization degree of hydrogen and helium are included to realize more realistic diffusivities,viscosity and radiative cooling in simulations.Numerical results show that the reconnection rate is smaller than 0.01 and decreases with time during the early quasi-steady stage,then sharply increases to a value above 0.05 in the later stage as the plasmoid instability takes place.Both the large value ofηen(magnetic diffusion caused by the electron-neutral collision)and the plasmoid instability contribute to the fast magnetic reconnection in the EB-like event.The interactions and coalescence of plasmoids strongly enhance the local compression heating effect,which becomes the dominant mechanism for heating in EBs after plasmoid instability appears.However,the Joule heating contributed byηen can play a major role to heat plasmas when the magnetic reconnection in EBs is during the quasi-steady stage with smaller temperature increases.The results also show that the radiative cooling effect suppresses the temperature increase to a reasonable range,and increases the reconnection rate and generation of thermal energy.

Particle-in-cell simulations of low-β magnetic reconnection driven by laser interaction with a capacitor–coil target

The dynamics of low-β magnetic reconnection(MR) driven by laser interaction with a capacitor–coil target are reexamined by simulations in this paper. We compare two cases MR and non-MR(also referred as AP-case and P-case standing for the anti-parallel and parallel magnetic field lines, respectively) to distinguish the different characteristics between them.We find that only in the AP-case the reconnection electric field shows up around the X line and the electron jet is directed toward the X line. The quadruple magnetic fields exist in both cases, however, they distribute in the current sheet area in the AP-case, and out of the squeezing area in the P-case, because electrons are demagnetized in the electron diffusion region in the MR process, which is absent in the P-case. The electron acceleration is dominant by the Fermi-like mechanism before the MR process, and by the reconnection electric field when the MR occurs. A power-law electron energy spectrum with an index of 1.8 is found in the AP-case. This work proves the significant potential of this experimental platform to be applied in the studies of low-β astronomy phenomena.

The effect of the guide field on energy conversion during collisionless magnetic reconnection

Magnetic reconnection is well known as an efficient mechanism for transferring magnetic energy into plasma energy.However,how the energy conversion and partition between different species is influenced by the shear angle of the reconnecting magnetic component(i.e.,the guide field strength)is not well understood.Using 2.5-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations,we investigated the energy conversion in reconnection with different guide fields.We found that the overall energy conversion first decreases steeply and then increases slowly when the guide field increases fromB_(g)=0 toB_(g)=4.The increase in energy conversion in the large guide field regime is due to the electron energy gain through the perpendicular channelJ_(⊥)·E_(⊥).The overall energy conversion is predominantly contributed byJ_(⊥)·E_(⊥) rather thanJ||E||.We further find that energy conversion mainly occurs within the reconnection front and the flux pileup region.However,the contribution from the fore reconnection front becomes important in large guide field regimes(3<B_(g)≤4)because of the enhanced electron energy gain.

Electron acceleration in a coil target-driven low-βmagnetic reconnection simulation

Magnetic reconnection driven by a capacitor coil target is an innovative way to investigate low-βmagnetic reconnection in the laboratory,whereβis the ratio of particle thermal pressure to magnetic pressure.Low-βmagnetic reconnection frequently occurs in the Earth’s magnetosphere,where the plasma is characterized byβ≲0.01.In this paper,we analyze electron acceleration during magnetic reconnection and its effects on the electron energy spectrum via particle-in-cell simulations informed by parameters obtained from experiments.We note that magnetic reconnection starts when the current sheet is down to about three electron inertial lengths.From a quantitative comparison of the different mechanisms underlying the electron acceleration in low-βreconnection driven by coil targets,we find that the electron acceleration is dominated by the betatron mechanism,whereas the parallel electric field plays a cooling role and Fermi acceleration is negligible.The accelerated electrons produce a hardened power-law spectrum with a high-energy bump.We find that injecting electrons into the current sheet is likely to be essential for further acceleration.In addition,we perform simulations for both a double-coil co-directional magnetic field and a single-coil one to eliminate the possibility of direct acceleration of electrons beyond thermal energies by the coil current.The squeeze between the two coil currents can only accelerate electrons inefficiently before reconnection.The simulation results provide insights to guide future experimental improvements in low-βmagnetic reconnection driven by capacitor coil targets.

基于LSD和FLD融合的道路裂缝图像预处理方法研究

针对道路中的路标、路沿等直线类干扰物影响道路裂缝识别的问题,提出一种基于LSD(Line Segment Detector)和FLD(Fast Line Detector)融合的道路裂缝图像预处理方法。首先,基于LSD算法和FLD算法对裂缝图像进行直线检测,获取直线类干扰物的线段坐标值;其次,根据直线检测算法返回的线段坐标值进行断线重连,解决了直线检测算法提取线段不连续的问题;最后,根据线段重连后获取的直线类干扰物的掩膜图和裂缝图像原图,运用FMM(Fast Marching Method)图像修复算法达到消除直线类干扰物的目的。经过大量实验分析可得:该方法能够有效地消除裂缝图像中的直线类干扰物,使得裂缝检测的准确率提升了7.1%。

Estimating the subsolar magnetopause position from soft X-ray images using a low-pass image filter

The Lunar Environment heliospheric X-ray Imager(LEXI)and Solar wind Magnetosphere Ionosphere Link Explorer(SMILE)missions will image the Earth’s dayside magneto pause and cusps in soft X-rays after their respective launches in the near future,to specify glo bal magnetic reconnection modes for varying solar wind conditions.To suppo rt the success of these scientific missions,it is critical to develop techniques that extract the magnetopause locations from the observed soft X-ray images.In this research,we introduce a new geometric equation that calculates the subsolar magnetopause position(RS)from a satellite position,the look direction of the instrument,and the angle at which the X-ray emission is maximized.Two assumptions are used in this method:(1)The look direction where soft X-ray emissions are maximized lies tangent to the magnetopause,and(2)the magnetopause surface near the subsolar point is almost spherical and thus RSis nea rly equal to the radius of the magneto pause curvature.We create synthetic soft X-ray images by using the Open Geospace General Circulation Model(OpenGGCM)global magnetohydrodynamic model,the galactic background,the instrument point spread function,and Poisson noise.We then apply the fast Fourier transform and Gaussian low-pass filte rs to the synthetic images to re move noise and obtain accurate look angles for the soft X-ray pea ks.From the filte red images,we calculate RS and its accuracy for different LEXI locations,look directions,and solar wind densities by using the OpenGGCM subsolar magnetopause location as ground truth.Our method estimates RS with an accuracy of<0.3 RE when the solar wind density exceeds>10 cm-3.The accuracy improves for greater solar wind densities and during southward interplanetary magnetic fields.The method ca ptures the magnetopause motion during southwa rd interplaneta ry magnetic field turnings.Consequently,the technique will enable quantitative analysis of the magnetopause motion and help reveal the dayside reconnection modes for dynamic solar wind conditions.This technique will suppo rt the LEXI and SMILE missions in achieving their scientific o bjectives.

Simulation of the SMILE Soft X-ray Imager response to a southward interplanetary magnetic field turning

The Solar wind Magnetosphere Ionosphere Link Explorer(SMILE)Soft X-ray Imager(SXI)will shine a spotlight on magnetopause dynamics during magnetic reconnection.We simulate an event with a southward interplanetary magnetic field turning and produce SXI count maps with a 5-minute integration time.By making assumptions about the magnetopause shape,we find the magnetopause standoff distance from the count maps and compare it with the one obtained directly from the magnetohydrodynamic(MHD)simulation.The root mean square deviations between the reconstructed and MHD standoff distances do not exceed 0.2 RE(Earth radius)and the maximal difference equals 0.24 RE during the 25-minute interval around the southward turning.

磁重联与等离子体波动

磁场重联与等离子体波动之间存在显著的联系.其中准静态波动、激波和动力学阿尔芬波的本征模是磁重联结构的重要组成部分.而其它的高频波动,不仅能吸收粒子的自由能,还可以导致粒子的加热和反常电阻的产生.这些多尺度的波动过程揭示了磁重联中能量转换的多尺度性质.本文探讨了地球磁层磁重联过程中的各种等离子体波动,涵盖了动力学阿尔芬波、低混杂波、哨声波、静电孤波、离子声波以及电子尺度的高频静电波,并分析了它们在磁重联中的特性和作用.近期的研究成果表明,动力学阿尔芬波(kinetic Alfven wave,KAW)能够描述磁重联区域的微观结构,其中包括霍尔磁场、霍尔电场、平行电场、霍尔电流以及场向电流.在这一过程中,霍尔电场作用于离子,有助于提高重联速率.低混杂波主要在电流片的密度梯度较大处被激发,并对电子进行平行加热.而哨声波是由朗道共振和回旋共振机制驱动的.据当前研究所示,低混杂波和哨声波对于重联过程中的反常电阻效应的影响是次要的.静电孤波多在磁重联分界线区域出现,其对等离子体的加热效应仍需进一步研究.与此同时,关于高频静电波(例如高混杂波和电子伯恩斯坦波)的研究重点在于磁重联的扩散区,这些波被认为对该区域中的电子能量转换过程起到了关键作用.这些最新研究成果为深化我们对磁重联以及等离子体波动的理解提供了宝贵的参考.

Laboratory observation of electron energy distribution near three-dimensional magnetic nulls

The acceleration of electrons near three-dimensional(3D)magnetic nulls is crucial to the energy conversion mechanism in the 3D magnetic reconnection process.To explore electron acceleration in a 3D magnetic null topology,we constructed a pair of 3D magnetic nulls in the PKU Plasma Test(PPT)device and observed acceleration of electrons near magnetic nulls.This study measured the plasma floating potential and ion density profiles around the 3D magnetic null.The potential wells near nulls may be related to the energy variations of electrons,so we measured the electron distribution functions(EDFs)at different spatial positions.The axial variation of EDF shows that the electrons deviate from the Maxwell distribution near magnetic nulls.With scanning probes that can directionally measure and theoretically analyze based on curve fitting,the variations of EDFs are linked to the changes of plasma potential under 3D magnetic null topology.The kinetic energy of electrons accelerated by the electric field is 6 eV(v_(e)~7v_(Alfvén-e))and the scale of the region where accelerating electrons exist is in the order of serval electron skin depths.

无碰撞磁场重联地面实验平台的研制与建设

中国科学技术大学无碰撞磁场重联实验平台(KRX)是以揭示无碰撞磁场重联的触发机制、对无碰撞磁场重联电子扩散区的结构及相关等离子体波动进行深入细致研究为目标而建设的大型等离子体装置,是开展空间环境基本物理过程地面实验模拟的综合性平台.装置主体为直线位形,真空室直径3 m,由多段拼接而成,整体呈胶囊型,内部采用2 m×1 m全球最大氧化物阴极源产生均匀的背景等离子体.装置外部环绕10组导向场磁线圈,内部由上下两块平行电流板通同向脉冲电流构建重联磁场位形,脉冲电源采用“H”桥结构实现了可控的变速率重联驱动.在装置四周共开设200多个真空窗口,能够通过探针阵列及太赫兹偏振干涉仪、激光诱导荧光等先进光学诊断系统对磁场重联过程开展全域、主动、高精度的测量.该平台是最新一代磁场重联实验平台,其重联区域尺寸达到10倍离子惯性长度,伦德奎斯特数S有望达到105,为开展无碰撞磁场重联实验创造了良好条件,能够对磁场重联过程开展多尺度、全面细致的研究,是卫星观测和数值模拟研究重要补充.目前,实验平台已完成基础建设以及诊断等关键组件的研制,并在小型装置预研结果的基础上完善了针对多尺度、多磁岛合并、三维磁场重联等热点问题的研究方案.

反常电子粘滞性引起的双撕裂模非线性演化

[目的]在常规电阻撕裂模方程的基础上加入反常电子粘滞性,用圆柱位形的磁流体动力学,对由反常电子粘滞性引起的双撕裂模的非线性发展做了数值研究。[方法]通过对非线性发展阶段磁岛和磁力线的演化分析,详细研究了两个有理面间距分别为较大、中等、较小3种情况下,由反常电子粘滞性引起的双撕裂模非线性发展的不同阶段的磁场拓扑结构的变化以及相关动力学特征,探讨了非线性发展的驱动问题。[结果]研究表明,两个有理面的间距的大小,对双撕裂模非线性发展有很大影响。间距中等时,会发生快速磁重联,对位形破坏最快最大。[结论]研究结果对托卡马克的位形设计和运行时的控制提供了参考。

基于RS485通信的列车重联设计

基于RS485通信方式设计了一种列车重联方案。与WTB通信方式相比,RS485对传输介质要求较低,可通过优化通信速率,在无屏蔽线的情况下,实现长距离数据传输。重点阐述了RS485重联软件的设计逻辑;通过装车验证,设计方案实现了车辆重联数据交互、列车编组动态识别与功能自动切换。

HX_(D)3C型机车用JZ-8型制动系统重联塞门改造研究

针对HX_(D)3C型机车用JZ-8型制动系统模式设置时需要单独操作重联塞门的问题,结合我国既有和谐机车各型制动系统模式设置方案,分析了JZ-8型制动系统重联塞门的作用,提出了改造方案,并对改造后的系统完成了试验验证,结果表明改造方案合理可行。

New Evidence for Magnetic Reconnection in the Tail of Interplanetary Magnetic Cloud

We analyse the WIND data of an interplanetary magnetic cloud （MC） on 2 November 2001, and find new evidences for magnetic reconnection in the tail of this MC. In the MC tail, the largely dip and the large change of the orientation of the magnetic field occurred simultaneously, △θ≈45° and △φ changed from 90° to 320°. Correspondingly, the number density of ions increased, and the superthermal electrons were heated and accelerated, however its number density decreased. Meanwhile, inverse jets and Hall term were observed. The pitch-angle distributions of the electrons with lower energy and higher energy showed strong turbulence and bi-direction flow, respectively. The plasma wave activity enhanced near the electron plasma frequency, fpe and 2fpe. These important physical characteristics are new evidences for magnetic reconnection existing in interplanetary space.

Contribution of patchy reconnection to the ion-to-electron temperature ratio in the Earth’s magnetotail

The ion-to-electron temperature ratio is a good indicator of the processes involved in the plasma sheet.Observations have suggested that patchy reconnection and the resulting earthward bursty bulk flows(BBFs)transport may be involved in causing the lower temperature ratios at smaller radial distances during southward IMF periods.In this paper,we estimate theoretically how a patchy magnetic reconnection electric field can accelerate ions and electrons differently.If both ions and electrons are non-adiabatically accelerated only once within each reconnection,the temperature ratio would be preserved.However,when reconnection occurs closer to the Earth where magnetic field lines are shorter,particles mirrored back from the ionosphere can cross the reconnection region more than once within one reconnection;and electrons,moving faster than ions,can have more crossings than do ions,leading to electrons being accelerated more than ions.Thus as particles are transported from tail to the near-Earth by BBFs through multiple reconnection,electrons should be accelerated by the reconnection electric field more times than are ions,which can explain the lower temperature ratios observed closer to the Earth.