We invite abstracts for Session 15 on “Challenges in understanding 3D magnetic reconnection in observations and simulations”, during the Solar Heliospheric and Interplanetary Environment (SHINE) Workshop (shinecon.org/CurrentMeeting.php), to be held from July 6-10, 2015, in Stowe, VT.
The UK has a strong track record in research involving 3D reconnection. It would be great to see this represented at the meeting. The format for the session consists of two “scene-setting” talks aimed to be open; discussion is expected and indeed hoped for throughout. Poster presentations from the session are on display for the whole week. Those who wish to make a particular point should bring one (at most two) slides that can be quickly put up on the main projector. We encourage your participation and hope that you will share this announcement with colleagues.
Early bird registration and hotel reservation closes May 31st.
Abstract submission deadline: June 15th.
Conveners: Peter Wyper and Silvina Guidoni
Session abstract:
Magnetic reconnection is believed to be responsible for rapid restructuring of magnetic field in the Sun’s atmosphere and the Earth’s magnetosphere, involving processes at multiple scales with accompanying dynamics in three dimensions. Global dynamics advect flux and set the conditions for reconnection to take place on small scales. During this change in magnetic topology, energy is released into plasma heating, particle acceleration, radiation, and bulk flows, which in turn feed back on the global dynamics. Recent high quality observations in the solar corona, magnetopause, and magnetotail as well as laboratory experiments and stateoftheart simulations at kinetic and MHD scales, are paving the way toward understanding reconnection in true threedimensional terms. Although we have a relatively complete understanding of reconnection in two dimensions, there are still many unanswered questions when considering three-dimensional systems. This session follows on from last year’s session “Magnetic reconnection and flux redistribution: multiscale and 3D dynamics”, by discussing recent progress and new challenges of understanding 3D reconnection in various contexts.
The following questions aim to structure the discussion:
Modeling: 1. What effects/physics is not captured by 2D modeling? 2. How do we define reconnection rate in 3D? Is this even a useful quantity?
Observations: 1. What reconnection related phenomena (such as solar flares and jets, substorms, and FTEs) cannot be satisfactorily explained by 2D theories? 2. Can these observations help to further constrain theory and modeling efforts of 3D reconnection?
Path Forward: 1. How can we combine current and future remote and insitu observations, laboratory experiments, and simulations to better understand the basics of 3D reconnection? 2.How can we make progress in extending previously gained 2D understanding into the fully 3D context?
Looking forward to seeing you in Stowe, V!