Magnetohydrodynamic Modeling of Current Sheet Structure and Magnetic Reconnection Using a Realistic Description of Transport Processes

该项目将使用现有的磁流体动力学（MHD）模型来描述碰撞主导的、完全电离的电子-质子等离子体，以生成1.5D电流片扩散区域的平衡解，然后确定这些解在受到三维线性扰动时如何随时间演变。这项研究将把首席研究员（PI）的模型应用于密度、温度和磁场强度的范围，这些范围描述了太阳的过渡区和较低的日冕，在那里等离子体的传输过程是碰撞主导的。研究人员先前已经确定，在确定该区域的电流密度和加热速率方面，热电电流与电场驱动电流同样重要。这项研究将确定扩散区的平衡结构是否显著影响太阳的磁重联率。该项目将扩大与西弗吉尼亚州费尔蒙特州立大学物理系的合作。PI将为FSU的本科生提供计算科学研究项目的建议，并为FSU的本科生实习生担任导师，这些实习生在他所在的机构、西弗吉尼亚高科技财团基金会以及其他当地公司工作。PI还将协助FSU开发物理课程的计算组件和计算科学学位课程的潜在发展。该奖项是根据2009年美国复苏和再投资法案（公法111-5）资助的。

This project will use existing Magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) models describing collision-dominated, fully ionized electron-proton plasmas to generate equilibrium solutions for the diffusion region of 1.5D current sheets, and then determine how these solutions evolve in time when subjected to 3D linear perturbations. The research will apply the Principal Investigator's (PI) models to the ranges of density, temperature, and magnetic field strength that characterize the Sun's transition region and lower corona, where plasma transport processes are collisionally dominated. The researcher has previously determined that thermoelectric currents are as important as electric field-driven currents in determining the current density and heating rate in this zone. This research will ascertain whether the equilibrium structure of diffusion regions significantly affects magnetic reconnection rates at the Sun. The PI will expand the ongoing collaboration with the Department of Physics at Fairmont State University (FSU) in West Virginia. The PI will advise undergraduate students at FSU on computational science research projects and serve as a mentor for FSU undergraduate interns working at his institution, the West Virginia High Technology Consortium Foundation, as well as at other local companies. The PI will also assist FSU with the development of computational components for physics courses and the potential development of a computational science degree program.This award is funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-5).