Abstract:
Magnetic reconnection is considered as a basic plasma process which efficiently converts magnetic energy to plasma kinetic energy companied by changes in the topology of the magnetic field configuration. It prohibites the excessive build-up of magnetic energy in the current sheets encountered in astrophysical and space plasmas. Some of the important theories concerning magnetic reconnection are described in a simple manner. The difference between magnetifc reconnection and diffusion is emphasized. The aim of this review is to high light the physical ideas of magnetic reconnection with the help of mathematical tools. For the purpose of illustration, applications of magnetic reconnection to solar flares and magnetospheric substores are discussed.
