Formation of magnetic islands in a current sheet
Altyntsev A. T. , Krasov V. I. , Lebedev N. V. , Papernyi V. L.
A regular reconnected magnetic structure of a current sheet, in the form of a chain of islands, is shown to form as a result of the spontaneous growth of random initial perturbations. The rate of this process is controlled by the plasma conductivity over broad ranges of the properties of the plasma.