Kelvin-Helmholtz instability and collapse of a twisted magnetic null point with anisotropic viscosity

¹ Research Software Development Group, University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, UK
e-mail: jamiejquinn@jamiejquinn.com
² School of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, UK

Received: 31 January 2021
Accepted: 3 April 2021

Abstract

Context. Magnetic null points are associated with high-energy coronal phenomena such as solar flares and are often sites of reconnection and particle acceleration. Dynamic twisting of a magnetic null point can generate a Kelvin-Helmholtz instability (KHI) within its fan plane and can instigate spine-fan reconnection and an associated collapse of the null point under continued twisting.

Aims. This article aims to compare the effects of isotropic and anisotropic viscosity in simulations of the KHI and collapse in a dynamically twisted magnetic null point.

Methods. We performed simulations using the 3D magnetohydrodynamics code Lare3d with a custom anisotropic viscosity module. A pair of high-resolution simulations were performed, one using isotropic viscosity and another using anisotropic viscosity, keeping all other factors identical. We analysed the results in detail. A further parameter study was performed over a range of values for viscosity and resistivity.

Results. Both viscosity models permit the growth of the KHI and the eventual collapse of the null point. Over all studied parameters, anisotropic viscosity allows a faster growing instability, while isotropic viscosity damps the instability to the extent of stabilisation in some cases. Although the viscous heating associated with anisotropic viscosity is generally smaller, the ohmic heating dominates and is enhanced by the current sheets generated by the instability. This leads to a greater overall heating rate when using anisotropic viscosity. The collapse of the null point occurs significantly sooner when anisotropic viscosity is employed.