The flare process in a topologically non-equilibrium magnetohydrodynamical system

The existing models for solar flares fail to treat in an appropriate manner the energy release mechanisms based on a step-like transformation of the magnetic field energy from magnetic field to energy of the hydrodynamical motion of the medium and dissipation of these motions through shock waves into heat.In considering an example of the relaxation process in a topologically non-equilibrium magnetohydrodynamical system resulting from the merging of two magnetic loops that possess balanced longitudinal currents, this paper suggests one such energy release mechanism. Due to a certain degree of universality for different topologically non-equilibrium systems, a variety of characteristics of the relaxation process obtained may form the basis for constructing a model of solar flares based on a step-like transformation of the magnetic field energy in topologically non-equilibrium magnetohydrodynamical systems.