Simulations of energy release and particle acceleration in forced magnetic reconnection in solar flare current sheets
Abstract
Solar flares are a release of stored magnetic energy through magnetic reconnection. The electric fields associated with reconnection are a strong candidate for explaining the origin of the large numbers of non-thermal electrons and ions which are produces in flares. A useful model for large-scale current sheets in solar flares is forced magnetic reconnection, triggered by a boundary disturbance, in a force-free current sheet. A chain of magnetic islands is generated, where particles may be trapped, as well as remaining open field lines which allow particles to escape to the solar surface or into the heliosphere. We present results both from test particle codes coupled to magnetohydrodynamic simulations, and particle-in-cell codes, and compare the results of the two approaches with regard to the energy spectra and spatial locations of both ions and electrons.
- Publication:
-
40th COSPAR Scientific Assembly
- Pub Date:
- 2014
- Bibcode:
- 2014cosp...40E.415B