Three-dimensional simulations of the orientation and structure of reconnection X-lines

This work employs Hall magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) simulations to study the X-lines formed during the reconnection of magnetic fields with differing strengths and orientations embedded in plasmas of differing densities. Although random initial perturbations trigger the growth of X-lines with many orientations, at late time a few robust X-lines sharing an orientation reasonably consistent with the direction that maximizes the outflow speed, as predicted by Swisdak and Drake [Geophys. Res. Lett., 34, L11106, (2007)], dominate the system. The existence of reconnection in the geometry examined here contradicts the suggestion of Sonnerup [J. Geophys. Res., 79, 1546 (1974)] that reconnection occurs in a plane normal to the equilibrium current. At late time the growth of the X-lines stagnates, leaving them shorter than the simulation domain.Comment: Accepted by Physics of Plasma

Chemical analysis of giant stars in the young open cluster NGC 3114

Context: Open clusters are very useful targets for examining possible trends in galactocentric distance and age, especially when young and old open clusters are compared. Aims: We carried out a detailed spectroscopic analysis to derive the chemical composition of seven red giants in the young open cluster NGC 3114. Abundances of C, N, O, Li, Na, Mg, Al, Ca, Si, Ti, Ni, Cr, Y, Zr, La, Ce, and Nd were obtained, as well as the carbon isotopic ratio. Methods: The atmospheric parameters of the studied stars and their chemical abundances were determined using high-resolution optical spectroscopy. We employed the local-thermodynamic-equilibrium model atmospheres of Kurucz and the spectral analysis code MOOG. The abundances of the light elements were derived using the spectral synthesis technique. Results: We found that NGC 3114 has a mean metallicity of [Fe/H] = -0.01+/-0.03. The isochrone fit yielded a turn-off mass of 4.2 Msun. The [N/C] ratio is in good agreement with the models predicted by first dredge-up. We found that two stars, HD 87479 and HD 304864, have high rotational velocities of 15.0 km/s and 11.0 km/s; HD 87526 is a halo star and is not a member of NGC 3114. Conclusions: The carbon and nitrogen abundance in NGC 3114 agree with the field and cluster giants. The oxygen abundance in NGC 3114 is lower compared to the field giants. The [O/Fe] ratio is similar to the giants in young clusters. We detected sodium enrichment in the analyzed cluster giants. As far as the other elements are concerned, their [X/Fe] ratios follow the same trend seen in giants with the same metallicity.Comment: 17 pages, 9 figures, 10 tables; accepted for publication in A&

New RR Lyrae variables in binary systems

Despite their importance, very few RR Lyrae (RRL) stars have been known to reside in binary systems. We report on a search for binary RRL in the OGLE-III Galactic bulge data. Our approach consists in the search for evidence of the light-travel time effect in so-called observed minus calculated ($O-C$) diagrams. Analysis of 1952 well-observed fundamental-mode RRL in the OGLE-III data revealed an initial sample of 29 candidates. We used the recently released OGLE-IV data to extend the baselines up to 17 years, leading to a final sample of 12 firm binary candidates. We provide $O-C$ diagrams and binary parameters for this final sample, and also discuss the properties of 8 additional candidate binaries whose parameters cannot be firmly determined at present. We also estimate that $\gtrsim 4$ per cent of the RRL reside in binary systems.Comment: MNRAS Letters, in pres

Exploring the Time Domain With Synoptic Sky Surveys

Synoptic sky surveys are becoming the largest data generators in astronomy, and they are opening a new research frontier, that touches essentially every field of astronomy. Opening of the time domain to a systematic exploration will strengthen our understanding of a number of interesting known phenomena, and may lead to the discoveries of as yet unknown ones. We describe some lessons learned over the past decade, and offer some ideas that may guide strategic considerations in planning and execution of the future synoptic sky surveys.Comment: Invited talk, to appear in proc. IAU SYmp. 285, "New Horizons in Time Domain Astronomy", eds. E. Griffin et al., Cambridge Univ. Press (2012). Latex file, 6 pages, style files include

Nonlinear Development of Streaming Instabilities In Strongly Magnetized Plasmas

The nonlinear development of streaming instabilities in the current layers formed during magnetic reconnection with a guide field is explored. Theory and 3-D particle-in-cell simulations reveal two distinct phases. First, the parallel Buneman instability grows and traps low velocity electrons. The remaining electrons then drive two forms of turbulence: the parallel electron-electron two-stream instability and the nearly-perpendicular lower hybrid instability. The high velocity electrons resonate with the turbulence and transfer momentum to the ions and low velocity electrons.Comment: Accepted by PR

On the 3-D structure and dissipation of reconnection-driven flow-bursts

The structure of magnetic reconnection-driven outflows and their dissipation are explored with large-scale, 3-D particle-in-cell (PIC) simulations. Outflow jets resulting from 3-D reconnection with a finite length x-line form fronts as they propagate into the downstream medium. A large pressure increase ahead of this ``reconnection jet front'' (RJF), due to reflected and transmitted ions, slows the front so that its velocity is well below the velocity of the ambient ions in the core of the jet. As a result, the RJF slows and diverts the high-speed flow into the direction perpendicular to the reconnection plane. The consequence is that the RJF acts as a thermalization site for the ion bulk flow and contributes significantly to the dissipation of magnetic energy during reconnection even though the outflow jet is subsonic. This behavior has no counterpart in 2-D reconnection. A simple analytic model predicts the front velocity and the fraction of the ion bulk flow energy that is dissipated

Super-Alfv\'enic propagation of reconnection signatures and Poynting flux during substorms

The propagation of reconnection signatures and their associated energy are examined using kinetic particle-in-cell simulations and Cluster satellite observations. It is found that the quadrupolar out-of-plane magnetic field near the separatrices is associated with a kinetic Alfv\'en wave. For magnetotail parameters, the parallel propagation of this wave is super-Alfv\'enic (V_parallel ~ 1500 - 5500 km/s) and generates substantial Poynting flux (S ~ 10^-5 - 10^-4 W/m^2) consistent with Cluster observations of magnetic reconnection. This Poynting flux substantially exceeds that due to frozen-in ion bulk outflows and is sufficient to generate white light aurora in the Earth's ionosphere.Comment: Submitted to PRL on 11/1/2010. Resubmitted on 4/5/201