Origin of the Sheared Magnetic Fields that Explode in Flares and Coronal Mass Ejections
Moore, R. L. and A. C. Sterling, Origin of the Sheared Magnetic Fields that Explode in Flares and Coronal Mass Ejections, 369, 539 (2007) (ADS)
(click on the image for a larger version)
How do we extract a 2D cartoon from a 3D world?
Here is one very clear idea about how a multipolar coronal magnetic
configuration might arise from independent
flux emergence
in two adjacent regions.
This is also a chance to point out that this 3D->2D mapping preserves
the topology of the magnetic domains, and so in this sense it is no
such thing.
But if one talks about the topology of the magnetic field lines themselves,
a tricky concept if plasma motions are involved, then indeed
magnetic reconnection involves the topology of the lines.
This becomes vague during that actual process, of course, and the domain
structure might not change anyway.
In such a case one might speak of
flux transfer instead.
How do we extract a 2D cartoon from a 3D world? Here is one very clear idea about how a multipolar coronal magnetic configuration might arise from independent flux emergence in two adjacent regions. This is also a chance to point out that this 3D->2D mapping preserves the topology of the magnetic domains, and so in this sense it is no such thing. But if one talks about the topology of the magnetic field lines themselves, a tricky concept if plasma motions are involved, then indeed magnetic reconnection involves the topology of the lines. This becomes vague during that actual process, of course, and the domain structure might not change anyway. In such a case one might speak of flux transfer instead.