Magnetic Reconnection in Current Sheets

Abstract

The notion of reconnection of magnetic field lines—magnetic reconnection—came into existence in the context of the interpretation of solar flare observations. The review of early works in the field is contained, for example in the eminent paper by Sweet (1969). From the viewpoint of magnetic reconnec-tion, lines and points where the magnetic field is zero are peculiarities. The special feature, which is of a topological nature, has already been mentioned in Section 2.4 (see Fig. 2.16).