Dynamical Evolution of Newly Formed Structures After Magnetic Reconnection

Abstract

Although extensive research on magnetic reconnection, e.g., current sheets, inflows/outflows, and plasma ejections, has been done, the dynamical evolution of newly formed structures during and after the reconnection between two sets of atmospheric structures is rarely studied. Here we investigate five reconnection events based on observations from the Solar Dynamics Observatory and the New Vacuum Solar Telescope. In each event, two independent atmospheric structures are involved. While they meet, a plasma sheet is detected. After exchanging topological connectivity, new structures are formed in the outflow regions. For each new structure, it is composed of a part of one original structure and that of the other one. In this Letter, for the first time, we find that there are two types of evolution patterns of the new structures. The first type is that the new structures move away from the reconnection position as a whole and then undergo a to-and-fro motion (an oscillation). The second is that the new structures display a “throwing whip” movement. We suggest that the evolution patterns are relevant to the topological configuration of the original structures and the position of the reconnection site.