Rayleigh-Taylor Instability Induced by the Collision between a Magnetic Reconnection Jet and a Magnetic Loop
Abstract
The solar corona as well as the interstellar medium are filled with hot plasma and high energy particles. In the solar flare called ``impulsive flare'', the hard X-ray emission is observed at the flare loop top and foot points. In this paper, we propose a model for the origin of high energy particles in an impulsive flare, by performing 3D resistive MHD simulations of magnetic reconnection triggered by the secondary tearing instability under simple assumptions. We assume the current sheet between a uniform magnetic field and an anti-parallel one, and perturbed the sheet. As a result, the fast magnetic reconnection occurs at the current sheet, and heats the gas by releasing magnetic energy. The Rayleigh-Taylor-like instability occurs at the reconnection jet, when the reconnection jet collides with both the magnetic loop and high pressure gas created by the magnetic reconnection. The helical and turbulent magnetic field can be created in the magnetic loop, because of the Rayleigh-Taylor instability. In the solar atmosphere, especially at the loop top of an impulsive flare, high energy particles created by the reconnection may be confined by this magnetic field. This process is also applicable to the origin of cosmic rays in the interstellar medium.
- Publication:
-
8th Asian-Pacific Regional Meeting, Volume II
- Pub Date:
- 2002
- Bibcode:
- 2002aprm.conf..469T