Creation of current sheets in sheared force-free fields and two-ribbon solar flares
Abstract
It is shown that a two-dimensional force-free field in the half-space (Z greater than 0) approaches asymptotically an open structure, with all the current concentrated in an infinitesimally thin sheet, when the feet of its lines on (Z = 0) are idenfinitely sheared and perfect conductivity of the plasma is assumed. The result is used to suggest a model for a two-ribbon flare. In this model, the coronal force-free field is brought by the photospheric motions into a quasi-open configuration, which then becomes unstable to the development of a tearing mode. A large scale reconnection process is then initiated, during which the stored magnetic free energy is released and converted into other forms.
- Publication:
-
International Cosmic Ray Conference
- Pub Date:
- August 1983
- Bibcode:
- 1983ICRC....4....2A
- Keywords:
-
- Current Sheets;
- Solar Corona;
- Solar Flares;
- Asymptotic Methods;
- Free Energy;
- Half Spaces;
- Photosphere;
- Solar Wind;
- Solar Physics