Sweet, P. A., The Neutral Point Theory of Solar Flares, 6, 123 (1958) (ADS)
(click on the image for a larger version)
A quadrupolar model, and a very influential early work - but, in
between now and then (half a century!), much of the theoretical work has
ignored this kind of complexity in order to try to figure out how simpler
bipolar configurations might work.
The bipolar reconnection model (CSHKP) makes equally little global sense
even in a 3D form.
The conference was IAU Symposium No. 6 (Stockhom, 1956).
It is interesting to imagine the discussions, for example, between Sweet and
Alfven (who must have attended!).
Conferences from that era often captured questions and answers that sometimes
were more spontaneous than crafted.
A quadrupolar model, and a very influential early work - but, in between now and then (half a century!), much of the theoretical work has ignored this kind of complexity in order to try to figure out how simpler bipolar configurations might work. The bipolar reconnection model (CSHKP) makes equally little global sense even in a 3D form.
The conference was IAU Symposium No. 6 (Stockhom, 1956). It is interesting to imagine the discussions, for example, between Sweet and Alfven (who must have attended!). Conferences from that era often captured questions and answers that sometimes were more spontaneous than crafted.