Alfven resonances, forced magnetic reconnection and model of solar flares

This paper briefly reviews the surface-wave-induced-magnetic reconnection (SWIMR) model based on the Alfven resonance theory near the neutral point. Extending this model to magnetosonic waves it is seen that it not only has features of formation of current sheets and plasmoids as in the incompressible case but in addition energy considerations show the triggering of solar flares by the catastrophic loss of equilibrium. The similarity of SWIMR model to the emerging flux and plasmoid induced magnetic reconnection model for solar flares is discussed. This article was scheduled to appear in issue 5 of Plasma Phys. Control. Fusion. To access this Special issue please follow this link: http://www.iop.org/EJ/toc/0741-3335/45/5.