title: Exact energy principle in magnetic reconnection for current-sheet models.
abstract: On the basis of an exact nonlinear energy principle, it is shown that the change in magnetic topology (i.e., reconnection) in a finite-domain system leads to the conversion of magnetic field energy to particle energy. However, it is also shown that the conversion efficiency gradually disappears as the system size increases. This principle is demonstrated with model current-sheet equilibria including Harris and Fadeev solutions, as well as a current-sheet equilibrium which contains a singular current layer. The finding that energy conversion in reconnection is highly dependent on the system size may have an important implication for numerical simulations performed under finite geometry.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Physical Science and Technology, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742-2431, USA. yoonp@ipst.umd.edu
authors.forename: Peter H
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Yoon
authors.forename: Anthony T Y
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Lui