Abstract
Electric currents are pervasive throughout the solar atmosphere. However, when intense localized concentrations of currents (current sheets or current layers) arise, the dynamic behavior of the magnetic field and plasma can completely change giving rise to significant releases of magnetic energy. As such, understanding how and where current layers form is essential to both understanding and predicting magnetic-energy release events. In this review, the creation of current layers in two dimensions, both force-free and magnetohydrostatic, will be discussed. Then the formation of three-dimensional current layers will be discussed, including where and how they may form. Also the differences between current layers in low and high beta magnetohydrostatic equilibria will be discussed. Finally, I will briefly touch on the evolution of a current layer once magnetic reconnection is initiated.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Title of host publication | Electric Currents in Geospace and Beyond |
| Publisher | Wiley |
| Pages | 219-237 |
| Number of pages | 19 |
| ISBN (Electronic) | 9781119324522 |
| ISBN (Print) | 9781119324492 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 17 Apr 2018 |
Keywords
- Current sheets
- Magnetic null points
- Magnetic separators
- Magnetic topology
- Magnetohrydrostatic equilibria