Transient magnetic reconnection and unstable shear layers.

We study three-dimensional magnetic reconnection caused by the Kelvin-Helmholtz (KH) instability and differential rotation in subsonic and sub-Alfvenic flows. The flows, which are modeled by the resistive magnetohydrodynamic equations with constant resistivity, are stable in the direction of the magnetic field but unstable perpendicular to the magnetic field. Localized transient reconnection is observed on the KH time scale, and kinetic energy increases with decreasing resistivity.

Numerical study of stress distribution in sheared granular material in two dimensions.

We simulate the response of dense granular material to shear. Our simulations use a micromechanical model which includes realistic material models for each deformable grain, and a Coulomb friction model for interactions between grains. We measure the probability density function (PDF) governing the volume distribution of stress for monodisperse and polydisperse samples, circular and polygonal grains, and various values of microscopic friction coefficients, yield stresses, and packing fractions.