MAGNETIC RECONNECTION IN LOWER SOLAR ATMOSPHERE

Observations of vector magnetic field have provided the decisive constraint on the magnetic topology of solar active regions, thus offering an observational basis to identify various physical processes. Based on both magnetic field observations and theoretical discussions, it has been inferred that the magnetic flux cancellation, discovered from the line-of-sight magnetograms, reflects the interaction between magnetic loop systems and is most likely the slow magnetic reconnection in the lower solar atmosphere. This type of reconnections may affect the magnetic activities in the higher atmosphere by the way of transporting the magnetic energy and helicity and sometimes may cause fast reconnection in the corona, providing the necessary energy in solar flares.