Magnetic Reconnection

Abstract

We review the fundamental physics of magnetic reconnection in laboratory and space plasmas, by discussing results from theory, numerical simulations, observations from space satellites, and the recent results from laboratory plasma experiments. After a brief review of the well-known early work, we discuss representative recent experimental and theoretical work and attempt to interpret the essence of significant modern findings. In the area of local reconnection physics, many significant findings have been made with regard to two-fluid physics and are related to the cause of fast reconnection. Profiles of the neutral sheet, Hall currents, and the effects of guide field, collisions, and micro-turbulence are discussed to understand the fundamental processes in a local reconnection layer both in space and laboratory plasmas. While the understanding of the global reconnection dynamics is less developed, notable findings have been made on this issue through detailed documentation of magnetic self-organization phenomena in fusion plasmas. Application of magnetic reconnection physics to astrophysical plasmas is also briefly discussed.

Investigating the Lid Effect in the Generation of Ocean Island Basalts

“…with decreasing pressure, subsequently becoming plagioclase (CaAl 2 SiO 8 ) at shallow depths beneath mid-oceanic spreading centers (e.g., Masaaki, 1980). Despite our analyses being subject to uncertainty, particularly in relation to estimates of lithospheric thickness and assumptions on uniform source composition, the data support a linear or bi-linear trend between all geochemical parameters and lithospheric thickness, providing univer- sal evidence for the lid effect and corroborating the conclusions of, for example, Humphreys and Niu (2009), Dasgupta et al (2010) and Niu (2021).…”