Two-dimensional numerical simulation of the resistive reconnection layer

In this paper a two-dimensional, time dependent, numerical simulation of a reconnection current layer in incompressible resistive magnetohydrodynamics with uniform resistivity in the limit of very large Lundquist numbers is p resented. Realistic boundary conditions derived consistently from the outsi de magnetic field are used, and the effect of the back pressure from flow i nto the separatrix region is also taken into account. It is found that with in a few Alfven times the system evolves from an arbitrary initial state to a steady state consistent with the Sweet-Parker model, even if the initial state is Petschek-like. (C) 2000 American Institute of Physics. [S1070-664 X(00)05110-7].