SELF-CONSISTENT MODELS OF INCOMPRESSIBLE STATIONARY RECONNECTION BY WEAKLY 2-DIMENSIONAL EXTENSION OF MAGNETIC ANNIHILATION

Weakly two-dimensional self-consistent solutions of the stationary res istive magnetohydrodynamic equations are presented The solutions are f ound by applying an asymptotic expansion procedure to the stationary r esistive MHD equations with the annihilation Solution as lowest order solution. Two different approximation schemes are investigated. Wherea s the first scheme allows the introduction of a normal magnetic held c omponent in the lowest order, the second scheme also introduces a weak variation of the current density along the current sheet in the lowes t order. This is closely related to the fact that in the first case th e inflow velocity does not vary along the current sheet, whereas in th e second case the inflow velocity may vary weakly along the current sh eet.