Anomalous Resistivity Associated with Secondary Islands in the Reconnection Region

Abstract

We calculate the anomalous resistivity (AR) due to electrostatic waves, including possibly the lower hybrid wave and electron beam mode, around the secondary islands in the reconnection region observed by the Cluster spacecraft. Our main findings are: AR is important on the reconnection separatrix layer but heavily suppressed at the central current sheet where B_x ~ 0. Moreover, there is a highly asymmetric pattern of AR across the island along the outflow direction, with much larger AR on one side of island than on the other side. Our results may be helpful in understanding the role of AR in reconnection.