Comparison of current disruption and magnetic reconnection

Abstract

We examine similarities and differences between the concepts of current disruption (CD) and magnetic reconnection (MR). Both concepts have been invoked to account for explosive phenomena that involve energy transformation from magnetic field to charged particles. Similarities of these two concepts include (1) the occurrence of breakdown in magnetic connectivity, (2) magnetic energy as the primary energy source, and (3) plasma energization as a product of the process. Differences include (1) plasma flow across separatrix surfaces in an X-type magnetic field geometry being essential for MR but not for CD, (2) plasma flow ordered by the magnetic field geometry for MR but not for CD, (3) field line topology change essential for MR but not necessary for CD, and (4) CD exhibiting multifractal and symmetry breaking behavior while no such behavior has been investigated for MR. Overall, CD can be viewed as a form of generalized MR (GMR) in which the requirement for a specific magnetic field geometry and its constraint on the plasma flow pattern are removed. Therefore, the CD concept has a broader scope in applications than the MR concept alone.