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Volume 61 Supplement 5

Special Issue: Flare-Substorm/Space Weather Topics

Patchy reconnection in a Y-type current sheet

Earth, Planets and Space volume 61, pages 573–576 (2009)Cite this article

Abstract

We study the evolution of the magnetic field in a Y-type current sheet subject to a brief, localized magnetic reconnection event. The reconnection produces up- and down-flowing reconnected flux tubes which rapidly decelerate when they hit the Y-lines and underlying magnetic arcade loops at the ends of the current sheet. This localized reconnection outflow followed by a rapid deceleration reproduces the observed behavior of post-CME downflowing coronal voids. These simulations support the hypothesis that these observed coronal downflows are the retraction of magnetic fields reconnected in localized patches in the high corona.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, DC, USA

    M. G. Linton & C. R. DeVore

  2. Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, USA

    D. W. Longcope

Authors
  1. M. G. Linton
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  2. C. R. DeVore
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  3. D. W. Longcope
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Correspondence to M. G. Linton.

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Linton, M.G., DeVore, C.R. & Longcope, D.W. Patchy reconnection in a Y-type current sheet. Earth Planet Sp 61, 573–576 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1186/BF03352925

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/BF03352925

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