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      Current singularities at finitely compressible three-dimensional magnetic null points

      Pontin, D.I.; Craig, Ian J.D.
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      2005-Physics of Plasmas.pdf
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      DOI
       10.1063/1.1987379
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      Pontin, D. I., & Craig, I. J. D. (2005). Current singularities at finitely compressible three-dimensional magnetic null points. Physics of Plasmas, 12(7), 1–8. http://doi.org/10.1063/1.1987379
      Permanent Research Commons link: https://hdl.handle.net/10289/9357
      Abstract
      The formation of current singularities at line-tied two- and three-dimensional (2D and 3D, respectively) magnetic null points in a nonresistive magnetohydrodynamic environment is explored. It is shown that, despite the different separatrix structures of 2D and 3D null points, current singularities may be initiated in a formally equivalent manner. This is true no matter whether the collapse is triggered by flux imbalance within closed, line-tied null points or driven by externally imposed velocity fields in open, incompressible geometries. A Lagrangian numerical code is used to investigate the finite amplitude perturbations that lead to singular current sheets in collapsing 2D and 3D null points. The form of the singular current distribution is analyzed as a function of the spatial anisotropy of the null point, and the effects of finite gas pressure are quantified. It is pointed out that the pressure force, while never stopping the formation of the singularity, significantly alters the morphology of the current distribution as well as dramatically weakening its strength. The impact of these findings on 2D and 3D magnetic reconnection models is discussed.
      Date
      2005
      Type
      Journal Article
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      © 2005 American Institute of Physics. This article may be downloaded for personal use only. Any other use requires prior permission of the author and the American Institute of Physics.
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      • Computing and Mathematical Sciences Papers [1454]
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