The influence of Asymmetric Inflow Reconnection on the Diffusion Region in Resistive Space Plasmas

To investigate the effect of asymmetric magnetic reconnection on the development of the diffusion region and growth of magnetic islands induced during reconnection (plasmoids), we use 2-dimensional resistive magnetohydrodynamics sim- ulations. In particular, we consider the strength of the magnetic field and plasma mass density to be dissimilar on both sides of the current sheet. For three cases, the results show that the initial X-point position shifts from the center of the diffusion region to the stronger magnetic field while the plasmoids grow toward the weaker magnetic field. Also, the increase of asymmetry in the magnetic field and plasma mass density leads to the reconnection rate and the growth time of plasmoid instability becoming less. Due to the displacement of reconnection sites in asymmetric cases, the output momentum from these sites does not directly collide with the outflow jets, so the velocity of the outflow jets is lower than in the symmetric case.