Physical Regimes of Two-dimensional MHD Turbulent Reconnection in Different Lundquist Numbers

Abstract

Using two-dimensional MHD simulations in different Lundquist numbers S , we investigate physical regimes of turbulent reconnection and the role of turbulence in enhancing the reconnection rate. Turbulence is externally injected into the system with varying strength. Externally driven turbulence contributes to the conversion of magnetic energy to kinetic energy flowing out of the reconnection site and thus enhances the reconnection rate. The plasmoids formed in high Lundquist numbers contribute to the fast reconnection rate, as well. Moreover, an analysis of the power of turbulence implies its possible association with the generation of plasmoids. Additionally, the presence of turbulence has great impact on the magnetic energy conversion and may be impactful also for the Kelvin–Helmholtz instability in the magnetic reconnection process.