Hall MHD and Electron Inertia Effects in Current Sheet Formation at a Magnetic Neutral Line

Hall MHD and Electron Inertia Effects in Current Sheet Formation at a Magnetic Neutral Line

Year:    2015

East Asian Journal on Applied Mathematics, Vol. 5 (2015), Iss. 2 : pp. 109–125

Abstract

An exact self-similar solution is used to investigate current sheet formation at a magnetic neutral line in incompressible Hall magnetohydrodynamics. The collapse to a current sheet is modelled as a finite-time singularity in the solution for electric current density at the neutral line. We establish that a finite-time collapse to the current sheet can occur in Hall magnetohydrodynamics, and we find a criterion for the finite-time singularity in terms of the initial conditions. We derive an asymptotic solution for the singularity formation and a formula for the singularity formation time. The analytical results are illustrated by numerical solutions, and we also investigate an alternative similarity reduction. Finally, we generalise our solution to incorporate resistive, viscous and electron inertia terms.

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Journal Article Details

Publisher Name:    Global Science Press

Language:    English

DOI:    https://doi.org/10.4208/eajam.160914.060315a

East Asian Journal on Applied Mathematics, Vol. 5 (2015), Iss. 2 : pp. 109–125

Published online:    2015-01

AMS Subject Headings:   

Copyright:    COPYRIGHT: © Global Science Press

Pages:    17

Keywords:    Finite-time singularities Hall MHD magnetic reconnection current sheet formation.