The release of magnetic energy drives explosive phenomena in nature, including solar flares and storms in the Earth's magnetosphere. The energy release occurs in regions where the magnetic field reverses direction through a process called magnetic reconnection, in which oppositely directed magnetic field lines form a topological x-line configuration. Plasma flows are ejected outward from either side of the x-line. Magnetic reconnection is important in essentially all magnetized plasma systems ranging from the astrophysical environment to laboratory fusion experiments. The balance between the generation of magnetic field energy through the dynamo action of plasma flows and the dissipation of this energy through magnetic reconnection ultimately controls the size of the magnetic fields which are present in the universe. Magnetic reconnection is also intrinsically interesting because the change in topology of the magnetic field occurs in narrow boundary layers where the kinetic dynamics of waves and particles must be included to model the system.

The forefront of current research on magnetic reconnection involves understanding the development of 3-D turbulence which is observed in the small scale boundary layers which form as reconnection proceeds and the production of large numbers of relativistic electrons which are observed to accompany the release of magnetic energy. A project which could involve undergraduate participation is

• The self-generation of regions of intense electric field by strong electron beams and the resulting scattering of these beams. This interesting and complex dynamical system can be explored through computer simulation and analytic theory. Visualization of complex data systems to extract the important dynamics is an essential ingredient to advancing the field.

• Students will have the opportunity to interact with scientists at all levels of the research project. On the computational level undergraduate students are remarkably adept at quickly picking up computer languages and techniques and implementing these in a research environment to carry small and large scale computations and use visualization tools to understand the dynamics. Care will be taken to match the complexity of the problem with the skills and time available so that students can bring projects to completion, including the publication of results in an archival journal.

Additional information about magnetic reconnection and the dynamics of energetic particles can be found at http://www.ireap.umd.edu/Theory/Research/magnetic-recon.htm and by contacting Professor Drake at (301) 405-1471 or drake@umd.edu.