Recently, Chen Xiaohang, an undergraduate instructed by Prof. Fu Huishan from the School of Space and Environment, published an article entitled Magnetic Nulls in the Reconnection Driven by Turbulence in The Astrophysical Journal.

Using spacecraft measurements to investigate the magnetic nulls in a reconnection event driven by turbulence in the magnetosheath, this research reveals the relation between magnetic-null topologies and currents. It significantly contributes to further understanding of the mechanism of energy conversion and particle acceleration in magnetic reconnection.

Magnetic reconnection is a process of rapid energy dissipation in space physics, astrophysics and experimental plasma physics, converting the magnetic energy stored in the magnetic field into the kinetic energy, thermal energy and radiant energy of particles. It is regarded as a direct reason for high-energy blasts in space and magnetic disturbance in nuclear fusion.

At present, it is generally believed that magnetic reconnection appears at the null points. Recent research shows that magnetic-null topologies directly influence the reconnection rate andare closely related to the turbulence and energy dissipation during the reconnection.

Established in 1895, The Astrophysical Journal is one of the top journals in the field of astronomy and astrophysics, with an impact factor of 5.533 in 2016. It was rated as one of the 68 most influential journals by Nature.

The research is supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China.

Click the following link for further reading:

http://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.3847/1538-4357/aa9991

Reported by Ding Yongbin

Edited by Shi Yue and Li Mingzhu

Translated by Li Mingzhu