2D numerical MHD simulation of magnetic reconnection as the origin of interstellar hot plasma Original Research Article

X-ray astronomy satellites detected strong X-ray emission along Galactic ridge (Galactic Ridge X-ray Emission, GRXE). Origin and nature of the GRXE are not known. In the present paper, we propose a possible mechanism to explain the origin of GRXE. We solved two-dimensional resistive MHD (magnetohydrodynamics) equation numerically to examine the magnetic reconnection triggered by a supernova and the interstellar magnetic structure in Galaxy. Especially we find that the magnetic reconnection heats X-ray plasma in Galactic plane if reconnection occurs in locally strong magnetic fields of ∼ 30 μG. The released magnetic energy by the reconnection is determined by the magnetic field strength. The magnetic islands are generated by the reconnection. Heated plasma is confined by magnetic fields for a long time.