Model of magnetic-field reconnection in a plane layer of collisionless plasma
Galeev A.A., Zelenyi L.M.
We consider the instability of a plane plasma layer placed in a magnetic field with rotating force lines. The instability constitutes excitation of the kinetic tearing mode. The overlap of the modes that develop near different resonant surfaces causes stochastic diffusion and reconnection of the magnetic-field force lines. The proposed mechanism may ensure reconnection of the interplanetary and geomagnetic fields at the boundary of the earth's magnetosphere.