RHESSI-SOHO-Trace Workshop

Sonoma, California

December 8-11 , 2004

Group 2: Magnetic Reconnection & Formation of Current Sheets

Group Leaders:

Terry G. Forbes
University of New Hampshire
EOS Institute – Morse Hall
39 College Road
Durham, NH 03824
Telephone: 603-862-3872
FAX: 603-862-1915
terry.forbes@unh.edu


Gordon D. Holman
NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center
Code 682
Greenbelt, MD 20771
Telephone: 301-286-4636
FAX: 301-286-1617
holman@stars.gsfc.nasa.gov

Registered Group Members


Summary

Group 2 will concentrate on the use of observations and theoretical models to determine the role of magnetic reconnection in flares. Significant progress has recently been made in both obtaining observations that relate to the reconnection process and in performing numerical studies of reconnection models. The objectives of the group will be to better determine the role of magnetic reconnection in flares and to establish the best direction for future observations and modeling.

 

Outline of Topics and Expected Sequence of Discussion

 
  • How do we determine if a large-scale current sheet is present in a flare?
  • When do current sheets form in flares and how do they evolve?
  • Are model results consistent with the observed evolution of flares?
  • How do we detect the presence of more than one site of magnetic reconnection, such as in the breakout model?
  • What are the most productive future directions for observations and for modeling and simulations?

Group Schedule

Wednesday, December 8

10:45-12:15 

Working group session:

Results from RHESSI (Sui)
2003 November 18 Flare - EIT, LASCO, RHESSI (Lin)
Nobeyama & RHESSI results (Kundu)
12:15-13:15 Lunch
13:15-15:15

Working group session:

Radio observation of the outflow termination shock (Aurass)
Analysis of Post Flareloops for the Implication of a Magnetic Reconnection Rate (Noglik)
Dynamical and Physical Properties of Post-CME Current Sheets (Ko, Raymond)

15:15-15:45 Break
15:45-17:30

Working group session:

Current sheet formation and reconnection due to photospheric footpoint motion and pre-existing magnetic field topology (Buechner)
Thermal Energy and Light Curves from a Loss of Equilibrium CME Model (Reeves)

Thursday, December 9

10:45-12:15

Working group session:

Magnetic reconection in flares and CMEs (Cheng)
Kink instability as a driving mechanism for pinching of hyperbolic flux tubes (Titov)

12:15-13:45 Lunch
13:45-15:15 

Working group session:

Solar and heliospheric influence on Earth's environment & ecosystem (Mukherjee & Mukherjee)
15:15-15:45 Break
15:45-17:30

Working group session (with Group 7):

Acceleration processes in a collapsing magnetic trap (Karlicky)


Friday, December 10

08:30-10:00

Working group host session:
Reconnection and Current Sheet Formation (with Group 1)

10:00-10:30 Break
10:30-12:00 

Working group host session:
Magnetic Reconnection in the Earth's Magnetosphere
(with Group 7)

In situ observations of reconnecting current sheets (Bale)
Observations of reconnection in the solar wind: Petschek-type exhausts (Gosling)
Comparative Study of Impulsive Reconnection During Substorms and Flares ( Bhattacharjee )
12:00-13:30 Lunch
13:30-15:00

Working group session:

Summary and discussion of group results

15:00-15:45 Break
15:45-17:30

Working group session:

Group discussion of future directions for observations and for modeling and simulations

 

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