Current Sheet Formation Near A Hyperbolic Magnetic Neutral Line In A Variable-Density Plasma: An Exact Solution

Current-sheet formation near a hyperbolic magnetic neutral line in the MHD model is investigated. In this model, the magnetic field lines are swept by the plasma flow toward the X-point. Effects of density-variation of the plasma are included. An exact analytic solution is given. This solution exhibits a finite-time singularity that is peculiar to the variable-density plasma case and this finite-time singularity occurs when there is a plasma density build-up near the magnetic neutral line. © 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved