On the re-connexion of magnetic field lines in conducting fluids

Abstract

The reconnexion of magnetic field lines is described for a special case of steady, incompressible hydromagnetic flow in two dimensions. A similarity solution is obtained which corresponds to the flow of a perfectly conducting, inviscid fluid such that magnetic field lines are carried from two sides toward, then on the other two sides away from, the centre of an X-configuration. The effects of viscosity are important in shocks which form in the vicinity of the X-lines of the configuration. The effects of finite electrical conductivity must be taken into account near the centre of the configuration which, in the symmetrical case discussed, is an X-type neutral point. From an approximate solution valid in this region it is found that the fluid must flow from the larger to the smaller wedges of the X-configuration. Hence, the reconnexion process is such that oppositely directed magnetic field lines move towards the neutral point in the larger wedges, become reconnected at the neutral point, and move away in the smaller wedges. Since the solution in the vicinity of the neutral point appears to be no more than a response to the external flow, which is in turn controlled by conditions far from the neutral point and is essentially unaffected by viscosity and finite electrical conductivity, it is tentatively concluded that the rate of re-connexion of magnetic field lines does not depend on these quantities, and that, in general, re-connexion can be expected to take place rapidly if circumstances are favourable.