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Abstract Magnetic reconnection occurs ubiquitously in the universe and is often invoked to explain fast energy release and particle acceleration in high-energy astrophysics. The study of relativistic magnetic reconnection in the magnetically dominated regime has surged over the past two decades, revealing the physics of fast magnetic reconnection and nonthermal particle acceleration. Here we review these recent progresses, including the magnetohydrodynamic and collisionless reconnection dynamics as well as particle energization. The insights in astrophysical reconnection strongly connect to the development of magnetic reconnection in other areas, and further communication is greatly desired. We also provide a summary and discussion of key physics processes and frontier problems, toward a better understanding of the roles of magnetic reconnection in high-energy astrophysics.
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This content will become publicly available on May 20, 2026
Relativistic Magnetic Reconnection in Astrophysical Plasmas: A Powerful Mechanism of Nonthermal Emission
Magnetic reconnection—a fundamental plasma physics process, where magnetic field lines of opposite polarity annihilate—is invoked in astrophysical plasmas as a powerful mechanism of nonthermal particle acceleration, able to explain fast-evolving, bright high-energy flares. Near black holes and neutron stars, reconnection occurs in the relativistic regime, in which the mean magnetic energy per particle exceeds the rest mass energy. This review reports recent advances in our understanding of the kinetic physics of relativistic reconnection:▪Kinetic simulations have elucidated the physics of plasma heating and nonthermal particle acceleration in relativistic reconnection (RR).▪The physics of radiative RR, with its self-consistent interplay between photons and reconnection-accelerated particles—a peculiarity of luminous, high-energy astrophysical sources—is the new frontier of research.▪RR plays a key role in global models of high-energy sources, in terms of both global-scale layers as well as reconnection sites generated as a by-product of local magnetohydrodynamic instabilities. We summarize themes of active investigation and future directions, emphasizing the role of upcoming observational capabilities, laboratory experiments, and new computational tools.
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- PAR ID:
- 10598320
- Publisher / Repository:
- ARAA
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- Annual Review of Astronomy and Astrophysics
- ISSN:
- 0066-4146
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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