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Author(s):
S. Bazdenkov, T. Sato and The Complexity Simulation Group
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Title:
Topological Transformations in Isolated Straight Magnetic Flux Tube
Date of publication:
Mar. 1997
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Key words:
magnetic reconnection, kink instability, coronal loop.
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Abstract:
Reconnection in isolated straight magnetic flux tube with all the field lines continuosly twisted is investigated by a three-dimensional magnetohydrodynamic simulation. It is found that in the case of straight geometry drastic topological changes and prominent burst-like thermal energy release occur, even though no ambient untwisted magnetic field exists. Three distinct phases of the magnetic reconnection are observed. The first one corresponds to rapid (in the Alfven transit time-scale) kinking and split of the only initial flux tube into two topologically distinct well-bundled helical tubes. At the second phase these tubes rapidly reconnect each other in such a way that the configuration "turns inside out", i.e., each of the tubes, being compactly bundled at its one end, scatters to a thin shell surrounding another tube at the opposite end. During the third phase, the magnetic configuration becomes essentially knotted and topologically uncertain, but the knots are then rapidly kicked off by reconnection with further recurrence of two well-bundled tubes observed just after the split phase. A new feature of the magnetic reconnection associated with a double layer fine structure of reconnecting electric current is also observed in the simulation.
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