BCAM Seminar: Magnetic Reconnection in Magnetohydrodynamics

LOCATION: Maryam Mirzakhani Seminar Room at BCAM 

Abstract
The goal of this talk is to provide examples of periodic smooth solutions of the Magnetohydrodynamics equations (MHD) with positive resistivity for which the topology of the magnetic lines-changes under the flow. By Alfvón's theorem this is known to be impossible in the ideal case (resistivity = 0). This phenomenon, known as magnetic reconnection, is of particular relevance for physicists, in particular in the study of highly conducting plasmas. Although numerical and experimental evidence exist, analytical examples of magnetic reconnection were not known.

This is joint work with P. Caro (BCAM) and R. Lucá (BCAM).