The dynamics of plasmoid in asymmetric spontaneous fast reconnection Original Research Article

The spontaneous fast reconnection evolution is studied in asymmetric magnetic field configuration. In particular, it is investigated how shear flow influences in magnetosheath region to the propagation of plasmoid results from magnetic reconnection using two-dimensional magnetohydrodynamic simulations. According to the fast reconnection development, the resulting large-scale plasmoids swell and propagate. Once the plasmoid fully develops, the propagation speed becomes almost constant in both the symmetric and asymmetric magnetic field configuration. An asymmetric plasmoid swells predominantly in the region of a weaker magnetic field and propagates along the field lines. The associated shock structure standing at the plasma boundary is the ordinary slow shock irrespective of the intensity of shear flow. However, velocity of plasmoid is proportional to shear flow velocity.