Simultaneous Observation of Reconnection Inflow and Outflow Associated with the 2010 August 18 Solar Flare

As cartoons go, this one is a fairly pedestrian line drawing: it is monochrome and 2D, and does not dare venture beyond the warm security of the CSHKP "standard model." It does feature multiple plasmoids, but they had been a part of the picture for decades as a result of the tearing mode instability. The observational basis here is SOL2010-08-18.

      The paper itself reports interesting observations made possible by the high resolution of AIA, and it also makes laudable use of the STEREO data for a 3D view. Alas, this does not propagate exactly to the 2D cartoon! The 3D view clearly shows the prominence eruption to proceed highly non-radially, not really consistent with the 2D viewpoint of the standard model. Nevertheless, these observations certainly do strengthen the case for a reconnecting current sheet following the flare eruption. But the CSHKP picture tends to ignore causation. Does the current sheet form prior to the impulsive flare energy release? If not, where does the energy it represents come from?