Reconnection of magnetic field lines through an electrostatic wave

The effect of a short-wavelength electrostatic wave on the rate of reconnection of magnetic field lines by a growing long-wavelength tearing mode is investigated. The influence of the electrostatic wave depends strongly on the parity of the wave potential about the resonant surface of the tearing mode and on the relative magnitude of the plasma resistivity η and viscosity μ, as well as on the amplitude of the wave. In general, by coupling the growing long-wavelength tearing mode with stable short-wavelength modes, the electrostatic wave has a stabilizing influence on the long-wavelength tearing mode. However, when the electrostatic wave potential is odd about the resonant surface, the same parity as the scalar potential associated with the tearing mode, and μ much-lt η, then there is a large increase in the growth rate of the tearing mode because of the presence of a large-amplitude electrostatic wave. Furthermore, a tearing mode that is stable in the absence of the wave can actually be destabilized by the wave. This increase in the growth rate appears to be due to a forced reconnection of opposing magnetic field lines by the flow associated with the electrostatic wave