Spontaneous non-steady magnetic reconnection within the solar environment

Magnetic Reconnection in Sheared Solar Magnetic Arcades

The evolution of solar magnetic arcades is investigated with the use of MHD simulations imposing resistivity on sheared magnetic elds. It is found that there is a critical amount of shear, over which magnetic reconnection can take place in an arcade-like eld geometry to create a magnetic island. The process leading to reconnection cannot be solely attributed to a tearing instability, but rather...

Non - Coplanar Magnetic Reconnection

Magnetic reconnection in solar eruptive events of varying magnetic configurations

We study the relationship between magnetic reconnection and acceleration of filaments and coronal mass ejections (CMEs) in different magnetic configurations. They occur in either quiet-Sun or active regions of either bipolar or multipolar magnetic fields, and are either or not accompanied by filament eruptions. The preliminary results of the case studies confirm the temporal correlation and mag...

Exploring the Role of Magnetic Reconnection in Solar Eruptive Events

We summarize our recent progress in investigating the role of magnetic reconnection in solar eruptive events consisting of flares, Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs), and/or Magnetic Clouds (MCs). The rate and total flux of magnetic reconnection in low-corona are inferred from flare observations and compared with kinematic properties and magnetic flux budget of erupting flux ropes. The results and t...

The Role of Magnetic Reconnection in Solar Activity

We argue that magnetic reconnection plays the determining role in many of the various manifestations of solar activity. In particular, it is the trigger mechanism for the most energetic of solar events, coronal mass ejections and eruptive flares. We propose that in order to obtain explosive eruptions, magnetic reconnection in the corona must have an “on-off” nature, and show that reconnection i...