Line-tied magnetic reconnection

We present two-dimensional numerical simulations of magnetic reconnection in a configuration relevant to two-ribbon solar flares. The calculations extend those of Forbes and Priest (1982a, b, 1983) and some puzzling aspects of their results are clarified. In particular, the roles of magnetic diffusion, of the tearing mode and of turbulence are individually examined. We stress the important part played by boundary conditions in determining the evolution of the initial current sheet and suggest that in future the evolution of the entire overlying magnetic arcade be modelled as well as the current sheet that is created below the rising arcade. Tearing at very high magnetic Reynolds numbers is likely to develop into an impulsive bursty regime of reconnection after a time which depends on the initial level of turbulence.