Turbulent magnetic reconnection

Abstract

Effects of turbulence on the magnetic reconnection are investigated. Turbulence effects enter into the mean magnetic-field and momentum equations through the turbulent electromotive force and the Reynolds (and turbulent Maxwell) stresses. By considering the mean-field equations with these turbulent effects, it is analytically shown that the mean magnetic field and the mean flow are induced in the presence of turbulent cross helicity (correlation between the velocity and magnetic-field fluctuations). Such induced mean fields are expected to contribute for the fast reconnection. With the aid of the analytical expressions for the induced fields, it is shown how the reconnection rate depends on the turbulent cross helicity. It is also inferred that the dynamic balance between the transport enhancement due to the turbulent energy and the transport suppression due to the turbulent cross helcity plays an essential role in confining the reconnection region into a tiny one.[This abstract is not included in the PDF]