Numerical Simulations of the Effects of Out-of-plane Velocity Shear on Magnetic Reconnection in the Near-Sun Solar Wind

Abstract Motivated by Parker Solar Probe observations of magnetic reconnection exhausts in current sheets near the Sun, we present particle-in-cell simulations of reconnection in the presence of shear flow perpendicular to the plane of reconnection. Increasing the strength of the flow shear decreases the reconnection rate, in agreement with observations and theory, and aligns with similar decreases that have been observed in other geometries. In addition, the shear produces asymmetries in the out-of-plane current bounding the reconnection exhaust, similar to those seen in observations.