Current amplification and magnetic reconnection at a three-dimensional null point: Physical characteristics

Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics

Volumn 112, Issue 3, 2007, Pages

  Pontin, D I ^a,b   Galsgaard, K ^c  

^a UNIVERSITY OF NEW HAMPSHIRE   (United States)

^b UNIVERSITY OF DUNDEE   (United Kingdom)

^c UNIVERSITY OF COPENHAGEN   (Denmark)

Author keywords

[No Author keywords available]

Indexed keywords

EID: 35148852026     PISSN: None     EISSN: 21699402     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1029/2006JA011848     Document Type: Article

References (33)

1. Brown, D. S., and E. R. Priest (2000), Topological differences and similarities between force-free and potential models of coronal magnetic fields, Sol. Phys., 194, 197-204.
2. Brown, D. S., and E. R. Priest (2001), The topological behaviour of 3D null points in the sun's corona, Astron. Astrophys., 367, 339-346.
3. Bulanov, S. V., and M. A. Olshanetsky (1984), Magnetic collapse near zero points of the magnetic field, Phys. Lett., 100, 35-38.
4. Close, R. M., C. E. Parnell, and E. R. Priest (2004), Separators in 3D quietsun magnetic fields, Sol. Phys., 225, 21-46.
5. Craig, I. J. D., and R. B. Fabling (1996), Exact solutions for steady-state, spine, and fan magnetic reconnection, Astrophys. J., 462, 969-976.
6. Craig, I. J. D., and Y. E. Litvinenko (2005), Current singularities in planar magnetic X-points of finite compressibility, Phys. Plasmas, 12, 032301.
7. Craig, I. J. D., and A. N. M. McClymont (1993), Linear theory of fast reconnection at an X-type neutral point, Astrophys. J., 405, 207-215.
8. Craig, I. J. D., R. B. Fabling, S. M. Henton, and G. J. Rickard (1995), An exact solution for steady state magnetic reconnection in three dimensions, Astrophys. J. Lett., 455, L197-L199.
9. Fletcher, L., T. R. Metcalf, D. Alexander, D. S. Brown, and L. A. Ryder (2001), Evidence for the flare trigger site and three-dimensional reconnection in multiwavelength observations of a solar flare, Astrophys. J., 554, 451-463.
10. Fukao, S., M. Ugai, and T. Tsuda (1975), Topological study of magnetic field near a neutral point, Rep. Ionosphere Space Res. Jpn., 29, 133 -139.
11. Galsgaard, K., and A. Nordlund (1997), Heating and activity of the solar corona: 3. Dynamics of a low beta plasma with 3D null points, J. Geophys. Res., 102, 231-248.
12. Galsgaard, K., R. V. Reddy, and G. J. Rickard (1997), Energy release sites in magnetic fields containing single or multiple nulls, Sol. Phys., 176, 299-325.
13. Galsgaard, K., E. R. Priest, and V. S. Titov (2003), Numerical experiments on wave propagation towards a 3D null point due to rotational motions, J. Geophys. Res., 108(A1), 1042, doi:10.1029/2002JA009393.
14. Hassam, A. B. (1992), Reconnection of stressed magnetic fields, Astrophys. J., 399, 159-163.
15. Hornig, G., and E. R. Priest (2003), Evolution of magnetic flux in an isolated reconnection process, Phys. Plasmas, 10(7), 2712-2721.
16. Lau, Y. T., and J. M. Finn (1990), Three dimensional kinematic reconnection in the presence of field nulls and closed field lines, Astrophys. J., 350, 672-691.
17. Longcope, D. W. (1996), Topology and current ribbons: A model for current, reconnection and flaring in a complex, evolving corona, Sol. Phys., 169, 91-121.
18. Longcope, D. W., and S. C. Cowley (1996), Current sheet formation along three-dimensional magnetic separators, Phys. Plasmas, 3, 2885-2897.
19. Longcope, D. W., D. S. Brown, and E. R. Priest (2003), On the distribution of magnetic null points above the solar photosphere, Phys. Plasmas, 10, 3321-3334.
20. McLaughlin, J. A., and A. W. Hood (2004), MHD wave propagation in the neighbourhood of a two-dimensional null point, Astron. Astrophys., 420, 1129-1140.
21. Nordlund, A., and K. Galsgaard (1997), A 3D MHD code for parallel computers, technical report, Astron. Obs., Copenhagen Univ., Copenhagen, Denmark.
22. Pontin, D. I., and I. J. D. Craig (2005), Current singularities at finitely compressible three-dimensional magnetic null points, Phys. Plasmas, 12, 072112.
23. Pontin, D. I., and I. J. D. Craig (2006), Dynamic 3D reconnection in a separator geometry with two null points, Astrophys. J., 642, 568-578.
24. Pontin, D. I., G. Hornig, and E. R. Priest (2004), Kinematic reconnection at a magnetic null point: Spine-aligned current, Geophys. Astrophys. Fluid Dyn., 98, 407-428.
25. Pontin, D. I., G. Hornig, and E. R. Priest (2005), Kinematic reconnection at a magnetic null point: Fan-aligned current, Geophys. Astrophys. Fluid Dyn., 99, 77-93.
26. Priest, E. R., and V. S. Titov (1996), Magnetic reconnection at three-dimensional null points, Philos. Trans. R. Soc. London, Ser. A, 354, 2951-2992.
27. Priest, E. R., G. Hornig, and D. I. Pontin (2003), On the nature of three-dimensional magnetic reconnection, J. Geophys. Res., 108(A7), 1285, doi:10.1029/2002JA009812.
28. Priest, E. R., D. W. Longcope, and J. F. Heyvaerts (2005), Coronal heating at separators and separatrices, Astrophys. J., 624, 1057-1071.
29. Rickard, G. J., and V. S. Titov (1996), Current accumulation at a three-dimensional magnetic null, Astrophys. J., 472, 840-852.
30. Schindler, K., M. Hesse, and J. Birn (1988), General magnetic reconnection, parallel electric fields, and helicity, J. Geophys. Res., 93(A6), 5547-5557.
31. Schrijver, C. J., and A. M. Title (2002), The topology of a mixed-polarity potential field, and inferences for the heating of the quiet solar corona, Sol. Phys., 207, 223-240.
32. Siscoe, G. L. (1988), Physics of Space Plasmas, pp. 3-78, Scientific, Cambridge, Mass.
33. Xiao, C. J., et al. (2006), In situ evidence for the structure of the magnetic null in a 3D reconnection event in the Earth's magnetotail, Nature Phys., 2, 478-483.