title: Merging of plasma currents.
abstract: The merging process of current filaments in a strongly magnetized plasma is described. The evolution is calculated using a contour dynamics method, which accurately tracks piecewise constant distributions of the conserved quantities. In the interaction of two screened currents, both develop dipolar vortical flows, bringing the currents together. This is the manifestation of the Lorentz force between aligned currents. Currents will merge into single filaments. Reconnection of the magnetic field takes place, converting the magnetic topology from a figure eight to a circle.
authors.affiliation: FOM-Instituut voor Plasmafysica Rijnhuizen, Association Euratom-FOM, TEC, Postbus 1207, 3430 BE Nieuwegein, The Netherlands. bergmans@rijnh.nl
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bergmans
authors.forename: T J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Schep