RELATIVISTIC MAGNETIC RECONNECTION

We study the kinematics of the relativistic Sweet-Parker and Petschek reconnection models for a magnetically dominated relativistic pair pla sma and find that the steady state inflow velocity to the resistive re gion can approach the relativistic Alfven speed when the outflow veloc ity does. This allows for a much faster rate of energy conversion than in the nonrelativistic regime and may be important in astrophysical s ettings.