  Magnetic reconnection (MR) plays a fundamental role in plasma dynamics under
many different conditions, from space and astrophysical environments to
laboratory devices. High-resolution in-situ measurements from space missions
allow to study naturally occurring MR processes in great detail. Alongside
direct measurements, numerical simulations play a key role in investigating the
fundamental physics underlying MR. The choice of an adequate plasma model to be
employed in numerical simulations, while also compromising with their
computational cost, is crucial to efficiently address the problem. We consider
a new plasma model that includes a refined electron response within the
hybrid-kinetic framework (kinetic ions, fluid electrons). The extent to which
this new model can reproduce a full-kinetic description of 2D MR, with
particular focus on its robustness during the non-linear stage, is evaluated.
We perform 2D simulations of MR with moderate guide field by means of three
different plasma models: a hybrid-Vlasov-Maxwell model with isotropic,
isothermal electrons, a hybrid-Vlasov-Landau-fluid (HVLF) model where an
anisotropic electron fluid is equipped with a Landau-fluid closure, and a
full-kinetic one. When compared to the full-kinetic case, the HVLF model
effectively reproduces the main features of MR, as well as several aspects of
the associated electron micro-physics and its feedback onto proton dynamics.
This includes the global evolution of MR and the local physics occurring within
the so-called electron-diffusion region, as well as the evolution of species
pressure anisotropy. In particular, anisotropy driven instabilities (such as
firehose, mirror, and cyclotron instabilities) play a relevant role in
regulating electrons anisotropy during the non-linear stage of MR. As expected,
the HVLF model captures all these features, except for the electron-cyclotron
instability.
