3-DIMENSIONAL MAGNETIC RECONNECTION WITHOUT NULL POINTS .2. APPLICATION TO TWISTED FLUX TUBES

Magnetic reconnection has traditionally been associated exclusively wi th the presence of magnetic null points or field lines tangential to a boundary. However, in many cases introducing a three-dimensional pert urbation in a two-and-half-dimensional magnetic configuration implies the disappearance of separatrices. Faced with this structural instabil ity of separatrices when going from two-and-half to three-dimensional configurations, several approaches have been investigated to replace t he topological ideas familiar in two-dimensional, but no unanimity has yet emerged on the way reconnection should be defined. While it is tr ue that the field line linkage is continous in three-dimensional, we s how here that extremely thin layers (called quasi-separatrix layers (Q SLs)) are present. In these layers the gradient of the mapping of fiel d lines from one part of a boundary to another is very much larger tha n normal (by many orders of magnitude). Even for highly conductive med ia these extremely thin layers behave physically like separatrices. Th us reconnection without null points can occur in QSLs with a breakdown of ideal MHD and a change in connectivity of plasma elements. We have analyzed several twisted flux tube configurations, going progressivel y from two-and-half to three-dimensional, showing that QSLs are struct urally stable features (in contrast to separatrices). The relative thi ckness w of QSLs depends mainly on the maximum twist; typically, with two turns, zu approximate to 10(-6), while with four turns, w approxim ate to 10(-12). In these twisted configurations the shape of the QSLs, at the intersection with the lower planar boundary, is typical of the two ribbons observed in two-ribbon solar flares, confirming that the accompanying prominence eruption involves the reconnection of twisted magnetic structures. We conclude that reconnection occurs in three-dim ensional in thin layers or QSLs, which generalise the traditional sepa ratrices (related only to magnetic null points or field lines tangenti al to the boundary).