Magnetic reconnection and current sheets in 2D and 3D magnetic configurations

Abstract

Experimental results are presented on the study magnetic reconnection phenomena and current sheet formation and evolution in 2D and 3D magnetic configurations with some topological singularities: null-lines, null points, singular lines. Current sheet evolution in 2D fields with null-lines manifests qualitative agreement with principal features of flare-type phenomena. Current sheet formation was revealed to occur in various 3D magnetic configurations, both with and without isolated magnetic null-points, specifically in agnetic configurations with Xlines. Results demonstrate self-organization of current sheets to be a general process for plasma dynamics in nonuniform magnetic fields.