Laboratory evidence of electron pressure anisotropy driving plasmoid mediated magnetic reconnection
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arXiv
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| Format: | Preprint |
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2026
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| author | Sladkov, A. Waltenspiel, T. Ahmed, H. Alexandrova, A. Anthonippillai, V. Antici, P. Chen, S. N. Cohen, I. d'Humières, E. Yao, W. Fuchs, J. |
| author_facet | Sladkov, A. Waltenspiel, T. Ahmed, H. Alexandrova, A. Anthonippillai, V. Antici, P. Chen, S. N. Cohen, I. d'Humières, E. Yao, W. Fuchs, J. |
| contents | Plasmoid-driven magnetic reconnection in elongated current sheets is suspected to be an ubiquitous phenomenon in space and astrophysical plasmas, but the mechanisms driving its onset and dynamics are still debated. Deciphering the physical mechanisms dominating the destabilization and fragmentation of the current sheet, as well as its evolution, would have a wide impact into our understanding of the induced plasma turbulence and particle acceleration. Here, by coupling 3D hybrid simulations with laser-driven experiments that involve counterflowing high-energy-density magnetized plasmas with a long aspect ratio of their contact layer, we show that electron pressure anisotropy is the driving factor of the growth rate of the tearing instability, and will sustain the reconnection process even without classical resistivity. Dissipative mechanisms, such as resistivity and isotropization, are further found to stabilize the sheet to varying degrees, thus modifying plasmoid formation. By identifying the roles of pressure anisotropy, dissipation, and large-scale geometry, our work lays the groundwork for the evaluation of plasmoid-driven reconnection impact on the dynamics of laboratory and astrophysical plasmas. |
| format | Preprint |
| id |
arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2604_15046 |
| institution | arXiv |
| publishDate | 2026 |
| record_format | arxiv |
| spellingShingle | Laboratory evidence of electron pressure anisotropy driving plasmoid mediated magnetic reconnection Sladkov, A. Waltenspiel, T. Ahmed, H. Alexandrova, A. Anthonippillai, V. Antici, P. Chen, S. N. Cohen, I. d'Humières, E. Yao, W. Fuchs, J. Plasma Physics Plasmoid-driven magnetic reconnection in elongated current sheets is suspected to be an ubiquitous phenomenon in space and astrophysical plasmas, but the mechanisms driving its onset and dynamics are still debated. Deciphering the physical mechanisms dominating the destabilization and fragmentation of the current sheet, as well as its evolution, would have a wide impact into our understanding of the induced plasma turbulence and particle acceleration. Here, by coupling 3D hybrid simulations with laser-driven experiments that involve counterflowing high-energy-density magnetized plasmas with a long aspect ratio of their contact layer, we show that electron pressure anisotropy is the driving factor of the growth rate of the tearing instability, and will sustain the reconnection process even without classical resistivity. Dissipative mechanisms, such as resistivity and isotropization, are further found to stabilize the sheet to varying degrees, thus modifying plasmoid formation. By identifying the roles of pressure anisotropy, dissipation, and large-scale geometry, our work lays the groundwork for the evaluation of plasmoid-driven reconnection impact on the dynamics of laboratory and astrophysical plasmas. |
| title | Laboratory evidence of electron pressure anisotropy driving plasmoid mediated magnetic reconnection |
| topic | Plasma Physics |
| url | https://arxiv.org/abs/2604.15046 |