Forced reconnection in a current-carrying two-dimensional resistive magneto-fluid is explored in a slab geometry. The time development of the two-dimensional processes that occur is studied numerically. Perturbation of the wall during a few Alfvén times generate ideal megnetohydrodynamics (MHD) waves that propagate towards the neutral layer and generate a current layer along it. The formation of the current sheet near the X point and the vortex motion inside the island are analysed in the nonlinear regime. In this phase the current in the X point of the generated island grows exponentially with time while it is still governed by ideal MHD. After having reached a maximum the current decreases sharply. This maximum and the subsequent decrease are determined by resistivity and the narrowing of the local current profile, which is an ideal effect. The current distribution becomes that of a sheet current, especially for low values of the resistivity. Eventually a quasi-stationary state is reached in which current and vorticity are localized along the separatrix.
Effects of resistivity and viscosity on dynamic evolution and radial position change of m/n = 3/1 double tearing mode
Nonlinear evolution and deformation of driven magnetic islands in rotating plasmas