Speaker
Peter Constantin
(Princeton University)
Description
Co-author: Zhongtian Hu
Abstract: Magnetic fields do not change topology during smooth dynamics of ideal MHD. But topology change does occur in nature. Magnetic resistivity and near singularities have been suggested as a possible explanation.
In this talk I will focus on a different explanation, also suggested in the physics literature: reconnection due to magneto-hydrodynamic inertia. I will describe 2D models that exhibit rigorous ideal topology change. The models have global smooth solutions and the reconnection is obtained from merger of a pair of active scalars transported by incompressible velocities they create. Finite time merger without singularities and without resistivity or viscosity is proved rigorously.