Quadrupolar Magnetic Reconnection in Solar Flares. I. Three-dimensional Geometry Inferred from Yohkoh Observations

A development of the "loop-loop" model - neat and tidy, but does it contribute much to our understanding? Such "loop-loop" interactions have long been sought in solar observations, but for the most part without much insight; at low plasma beta the loops that we can actually see best are not necessarily the ones that matter, since the field dominates the energetics and the visible loops are just along for the ride. This cartoon does not hint at the electrodynamics issues as discussed in the Melrose analysis of this problem. Also it does not make clear that the post-reconnection field lines must be shorter, i.e. that there has been a magnetic implosion.