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Lecture
Are you an EPFL student looking for a semester project?
Work with us on data science and visualisation projects, and deploy your project as an app on top of GraphSearch.
This lecture covers the process of magnetic reconnection, focusing on the emergence of flux ropes and the Sweet-Parker model. It explains rising flux tubes due to magnetic buoyancy, the equilibrium in the radial direction, and the isothermal approximation. The instructor discusses how magnetic fields interact, ideal MHD dynamics, and basic concepts of magnetic reconnection. The Sweet-Parker model is detailed, emphasizing the reconnection rate and energy balance. The lecture also explores estimates for solar flares and sawteeth, numerical simulations, and laboratory experiments on magnetic reconnection. Finally, it addresses open questions, such as how to go beyond the Sweet-Parker model and the need for observational data, simulations, and experiments to advance understanding.