The effect of reconnection upon the linkage and interior structure of magnetic flux tubes

Abstract

The topological properties of a magnetic field are interpreted in terms of magnetic helicity. The total helicity of a collection of flux tubes arises from the linking of flux tubes with one another (mutual helicity) and the internal magnetic structure of each flux tube (self‐helicity). Reconnection changes the topology and magnetic connectivity of flux tubes. This can also be viewed as a redistribution of self‐ and mutual helicities. If total magnetic helicity is approximately conserved, it is possible to put quantitative limits upon the changes in self‐ and mutual helicities. This can be interpreted as the change in magnetic flux tube linkage (due to reconnection) and amount of twist present in the reconnected flux tubes. The implications for reconnection in the terrestrial magnetosphere are also discussed.