Linear collapse of spatially linear,three-dimensional,potential null points

The collapse of the magnetic field in the vicinity of a null point creates a large electrical current. Non-ideal effects in the surrounding plasma can then allow the onset of magnetic reconnection, which is important in many astrophysical phenomena. An elegant technique is used to show that spatially linear, initially potential, three-dimensional null points have a tendency to collapse with a growth of either the spine current or the fan current or a combination of both. The rate of collapse is determined for an incompressible plasma flow with open boundary conditions. An initial plasma flow affects the rate of collapse by speeding it up.