A mechanism of collisionless magnetic reconnection

Forced reconnection in a collisionless magnetized plasma is studied using an implicit particle simulation. A coalescence of magnetic islands induces the electric field Et at the x-point via the displacement current. A quasi-steady reconnection is achieved with Et ≠ 0, the poloidal electric field Ep generated by electrostatic shielding, and the current Jt continuously removed via the Ep x B plasma convection. Transit acceleration of electrons by unshielded parallel electric field Eparallel ≅ Et at the x-point yields the Ohm's law Et ≅ ηeqJt with ηeq the inertia (kinetic) resistivity. (author)