We use three-dimensional (3-D) fully kinetic particle-in-cell simulations to study the occurrence of magnetic reconnection in a simulation of decaying turbulence created by anisotropic counter-propagating low-frequency Alfvén waves consistent with critical-balance theory. We observe the formation of small-scale current-density structures such as current filaments and current sheets as well as the formation of magnetic flux ropes as part of the turbulent cascade. The large magnetic structures present in the simulation domain retain the initial anisotropy while the small-scale structures produced by the turbulent cascade are less anisotropic. To quantify the occurrence of reconnection in our simulation domain, we develop a new set of indicators based on intensity thresholds to identify reconnection events in which both ions and electrons are heated and accelerated in 3-D particle-in-cell simulations. According to the application of these indicators, we identify the occurrence of reconnection events in the simulation domain and analyse one of these events in detail. The event is related to the reconnection of two flux ropes, and the associated ion and electron exhausts exhibit a complex 3-D structure. We study the profiles of plasma and magnetic-field fluctuations recorded along artificial-spacecraft trajectories passing near and through the reconnection region. Our results suggest the presence of particle heating and acceleration related to small-scale reconnection events within magnetic flux ropes produced by the anisotropic Alfvénic turbulent cascade in the solar wind. These events are related to current structures of the order of a few ion inertial lengths in size.

中文翻译：

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各向异性等离子体湍流的细胞内粒子模拟中的三维磁重联

我们使用三维（3-D）全动力学粒子在细胞模拟来研究磁重联的发生，模拟由各向异性反向传播的低频 Alfvén 波产生的衰减湍流与临界平衡理论一致。我们观察到小规模电流密度结构的形成，例如电流灯丝和电流片，以及作为湍流级联一部分的磁通绳的形成。模拟域中存在的大型磁性结构保留了初始各向异性，而湍流级联产生的小规模结构则各向异性较小。为了量化我们模拟域中重新连接的发生，我们开发了一组基于强度阈值的新指标，以识别在 3-D 细胞内粒子模拟中离子和电子都被加热和加速的重新连接事件。根据这些指标的应用，我们识别出模拟域中重连事件的发生，并详细分析其中一个事件。该事件与两条通量绳的重新连接有关，相关的离子和电子排气呈现出复杂的 3-D 结构。我们研究了沿着通过重联区附近和通过的人造航天器轨迹记录的等离子体和磁场波动的轮廓。我们的结果表明，在太阳风中由各向异性的 Alfvénic 湍流级联产生的磁通量绳中存在与小规模重联事件相关的粒子加热和加速。这些事件与大小约为几个离子惯性长度的当前结构有关。