Radiative Signatures of Magnetic Reconnection: An Approach to Remote Probing of Reconnection Dynamics

Fuente: arXiv
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Main Authors: Ermakov, Sergey K., Bussmann, Michael, Debus, Alexander, Pausch, Richard, Schramm, Ulrich, Widera, René, Steiniger, Klaus
Format: Preprint
Published: 2025
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author Ermakov, Sergey K.
Bussmann, Michael
Debus, Alexander
Pausch, Richard
Schramm, Ulrich
Widera, René
Steiniger, Klaus
author_facet Ermakov, Sergey K.
Bussmann, Michael
Debus, Alexander
Pausch, Richard
Schramm, Ulrich
Widera, René
Steiniger, Klaus
contents Magnetic reconnection drives a wide range of astrophysical phenomena, including geomagnetic storms, solar flares, and activity in blazars. However, direct measurement of key reconnection observables remains challenging due to the remote and extreme nature of these environments. While high-energy particle showers observed on Earth are often attributed to reconnection, the underlying mechanisms are not fully understood, and clear diagnostic signatures are lacking. We present a theoretical, data-driven approach for identifying reconnection radiation signatures and enabling remote diagnostics of reconnection in astrophysical settings through radiation spectra. Using particle-in-cell (PIC) simulations of magnetic reconnection, we generate radiation spectra and establish connections between spectral features and the underlying reconnection dynamics. We develop a method to estimate the ratio of the reconnection electric field to the plasmoid magnetic field from spectral data. Analytic calculations show that other parameters can be extracted in the ultra-relativistic reconnection regime, such as the magnetic field or the current sheet width.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2508_10768
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Radiative Signatures of Magnetic Reconnection: An Approach to Remote Probing of Reconnection Dynamics
Ermakov, Sergey K.
Bussmann, Michael
Debus, Alexander
Pausch, Richard
Schramm, Ulrich
Widera, René
Steiniger, Klaus
High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena
Magnetic reconnection drives a wide range of astrophysical phenomena, including geomagnetic storms, solar flares, and activity in blazars. However, direct measurement of key reconnection observables remains challenging due to the remote and extreme nature of these environments. While high-energy particle showers observed on Earth are often attributed to reconnection, the underlying mechanisms are not fully understood, and clear diagnostic signatures are lacking. We present a theoretical, data-driven approach for identifying reconnection radiation signatures and enabling remote diagnostics of reconnection in astrophysical settings through radiation spectra. Using particle-in-cell (PIC) simulations of magnetic reconnection, we generate radiation spectra and establish connections between spectral features and the underlying reconnection dynamics. We develop a method to estimate the ratio of the reconnection electric field to the plasmoid magnetic field from spectral data. Analytic calculations show that other parameters can be extracted in the ultra-relativistic reconnection regime, such as the magnetic field or the current sheet width.
title Radiative Signatures of Magnetic Reconnection: An Approach to Remote Probing of Reconnection Dynamics
topic High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2508.10768