Magnetic Carpet

Cluster reveals how Solar Magnetic fields get reconnected in turbulent plasma

This image provides a model of magnetic fields at the Sun's surface using SOHO data, showing irregular magnetic fields (the ‘magnetic carpet’) in the solar corona (top layer of the Sun's atmosphere).

Small-scale current sheets are likely to form in such turbulent environment and reconnection may occur in similar fashion as in Earth's magnetosheath.

Credits: Stanford-Lockheed Inst. for Space Research/NASA GSFC
_______________________________________________________
Structure Of The Sun's Magnetic Field by Science Daily source ESA
Cassini - Odd Hexagon at Saturn’s Pole from Centauri Dreams
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________