Magnetic field-line reconnexion by localized enhancement of resistivity: Part 1. Evolution in a compressible MHD fluid

The temporal dynamics of field-line reconnexion is studied by numerical experiment in a compressible conducting fluid. It is shown that because of localized enhancement of resistivity the reconnexion takes place in an initially antiparallel magnetic field and that an X-type field configuration develops, occupying an extended region. There is also a remarkable release of magnetic energy into kinetic and thermal energies. The global flow pattern can spontaneously be set up through the field-line reconnexion under no specially imposed boundary conditions.