Three-dimensional fast magnetic reconnection driven by relativistic ultraintense femtosecond lasers

Abstract

Three-dimensional fast magnetic reconnection driven by two ultraintense femtosecond laser pulses is investigated by relativistic particle-in-cell simulation, where the two paralleled incident laser beams are shot into a near-critical plasma layer to form a magnetic reconnection configuration in self-generated magnetic fields. A reconnection X point and out-of-plane quadrupole field structures associated with magnetic reconnection are formed. The reconnection rate is found to be faster than that found in previous two-dimensional Hall magnetohydrodynamic simulations and electrostatic turbulence contribution to the reconnection electric field plays an essential role. Both in-plane and out-of-plane electron and ion accelerations up to a few MeV due to the magnetic reconnection process are also obtained.

Generalized Magnetofluid Connections in Relativistic Magnetohydrodynamics

“…Therefore, Eq. (1) is no longer valid and the magnetic connections are not conserved [2][3][4]9,10]. However, one might expect that in these dissipationless cases the magnetic connections could be replaced by more sophisticated "generalized connections."…”

“…Moreover, it provides the very basis of central concepts in classical (neither relativistic nor quantum) plasma physics, such as magnetic field line motion, magnetic topology, and magnetic reconnection. However, as the plasma energy increases (both in laboratory [2][3][4] and astrophysical contexts [5][6][7]), a generalization of these notions to the relativistic regime is required. Indeed, in a relativisic plasma different physical concepts must be taken into account, such as the distinction between magnetic and electric fields, which are reference-frame dependent.…”

Magnetic reconnection driven by intense lasers

“…As a reference, the field generated by a single laser pulse is also plotted in Figures 10(a)-10(c). Clearly the azimuthal magnetic field expands laterally because of the force acting on the vortex in the ∇n × Ω direction [44,45] with its topological structure (l) B z by two incident lasers [43] . kept unchanged, as an expanding bubble with an O-pointtype null at the center.…”

Relativistic magnetic reconnection driven by a laser interacting with a micro-scale plasma slab

“…The enormous magnetic tension gives rise to intense relativistic jets that have so far been absent in other relativistic MR studies based on laser-plasma interaction. 31,36,37 Due to these features, the proposed scenario is promising to provide an important platform to study the non-thermal signatures and energy transition in relativistic MR. In addition, we present other MR signatures including quantified agyrotropy peaks in the diffusion area, 38 and out-of-plane quadrupole field structures.…”