Three species reconnection: Effect of O+ on magnetotail reconnection


Although much progress has been made recently in understanding reconnection in a plasma composed of electrons and protons, many plasmas contain a third heavier charged species. Example of this are O+ in the Earth's magnetotail and dusty astrophysical plasmas. Using theoretical arguments and three-fluid simulations, we examine reconnection in a three-species plasma. Besides the usual two length scales present in two-species reconnection, there are two additional larger length scales in the system: one associated with a "heavy whistler'' which produces a large scale quadrupolar out-of-plane magnetic field, and one associated with the "heavy Alfven" wave which can slow the outflow speed and thus the reconnection rate. The consequences for reconnection in the magnetotail will be discussed.