On the magnetic reconnection of electric currents in solar flares

The role of the electric currents distributed over the volume of an active region on the Sun is considered from the standpoint of solar flare physics. We suggest including the electric currents in a topological model of the magnetic field in an active region. Typical values of the mutual inductance and the interaction energy of the coronal electric currents flowing along magnetic loops have been estimated for the M7/1N flare on April 27, 2006. We show that if these currents actually make a significant contribution to the flare energetics, then they must manifest themselves in the photosphericmagnetic fields. Depending on their orientation, the distributed currents can both help and hinder reconnection in the current layer at the separator during the flare. Asymmetric reconnection of the currents is accompanied by their interruption and an inductive change in energy. The reconnection of currents in flares differs significantly from the ordinary coalescence instability of magnetic islands in current layers. Highly accurate measurements of the magnetic fields in active regions are needed for a quantitative analysis of the role of distributed currents in solar flares.