HR: 0830h
AN: SH31A-1082    [PDF]
TI: Simulation of Heavy Ion Dynamics in a Magnetic Reconnection
AU: * Shimazu, H
EM: shimazu@crl.go.jp
AF: Communications Research Laboratory, 4-2-1 Nukuikita, Koganei, Tokyo, 184-8795 Japan
AU: Winglee, R M
EM: winglee@ess.washington.edu
AF: Dept. Earth and Space Sciences, University of Washington, Box 351310, Seattle, WA 98195-1310 United States
AB: We use a 2-dimensional hybrid code (fluid electrons and particle ions) to simulate a magnetic reconnection and include the effects of heavy ions. The time evolution of the Harris plasma sheet is examined under nearly the same initial conditions as those of the GEM Magnetic Reconnection Challenge project with heavy ions included. We find that distribution of the heavy ions is different from that of protons in both real space and velocity space after the reconnection occurs. In real space, the density ratio of heavy ions to protons is higher in the vicinity of the reconnection region. In velocity space, distribution function of protons has double peak structure. As they are ejected, protons are heated and thermalized. It is found that minority heavy ions gain kinetic energy in the direction perpendicular to the simulation plane in the reconnection region.
DE: 2744 Magnetotail
DE: 2753 Numerical modeling
DE: 7835 Magnetic reconnection
DE: 7843 Numerical simulation studies
SC: SPA - Solar and Heliospheric Physics [SH]
MN: 2003 Fall Meeting