Patchy reconnection in a Y-type current sheet
Abstract
We study the evolution of the magnetic field in a Y-type current sheet subject to a brief, localized magnetic reconnection event. The reconnection produces up- and down-flowing reconnected flux tubes which rapidly decelerate when they hit the Y-lines and underlying magnetic arcade loops at the ends of the current sheet. This localized reconnection outflow followed by a rapid deceleration reproduces the observed behavior of post-CME downflowing coronal voids. These simulations support the hypothesis that these observed coronal downflows are the retraction of magnetic fields reconnected in localized patches in the high corona.
- Publication:
-
Earth, Planets and Space
- Pub Date:
- May 2009
- DOI:
- 10.1186/BF03352925
- arXiv:
- arXiv:0712.1235
- Bibcode:
- 2009EP&S...61..573L
- Keywords:
-
- Solar;
- corona;
- flare;
- reconnection;
- Astrophysics
- E-Print:
- 4 pages, 3 figures