MHD simulations of linear and nonlinear resistive tearing-mode instability in Harris sheet equilibrium

The tearing mode instability may develop in Harris type current sheets with antiparallel magnetic field. In this study, we study the tearing mode instability in the Harris sheet equilibrium using two-dimensional, linear and nonlinear resistive magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) models with isotropic pressure. We calculate the linear growth rates and eigenmode structures based on the linear MHD model which are used as initial perturbations in the MHD simulations for the full evolution of nonlinear tearing mode instability. Our primary focus is on the effects of various background density profiles on the linear growth rate and nonlinear evolution and saturation of the tearing mode instability. Additionally, we examine the effects of thermodynamic conditions on the tearing mode instability.