A Discussion on the physics of the solar atmosphere - Current sheets
Current sheets are believed to be of prime importance in the solar atmosphere. Low down they may form at supergranulation boundaries, whereas up in the corona they have been suggested as a prominence formation site. In addition, they may occur when rapidly emerging flux presses up against pre-existing magnetic fields: if rapid magnetic field annihilation and reconnection is then triggered, a surge or a flare may be produced. Comments are given about three aspects of general current sheet theory. The position and shape of the current sheet which forms between two-dimensional dipole sources is calculated. The thermal instability which occurs when the length of the sheet exceeds a critical value is described. Finally, a simple model of magnetic field annihilation is presented.