Fast formation of magnetic islands in a plasma in the presence of counterstreaming electrons

Authors
Califano, F Attico, N Pegoraro, F Bertin, G Bulanov, SV
Citation
F. Califano et al., Fast formation of magnetic islands in a plasma in the presence of counterstreaming electrons, PHYS REV L, 86(23), 2001, pp. 5293-5296
Citations number
44
Categorie Soggetti
Physics
Journal title
PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS
ISSN journal
00319007 → ACNP
Volume
86
Issue
23
Year of publication
2001
Pages
5293 - 5296
Database
ISI
SICI code
0031-9007(20010604)86:23<5293:FFOMII>2.0.ZU;2-B
Abstract
With the help of 2D-3V (two dimensional in space and three dimensional in v elocity) Vlasov simulations we show that the magnetic field generated by th e electromagnetic current filamentation instability develops magnetic islan ds due to the onset of a fast reconnection process that occurs on the elect ron dynamical time scale. This process is relevant to magnetic channel coal escence in relativistic laser plasma interactions.