rEFLECTION on rECONNECTION

From NASA:

August 31, 2009: Magnetic reconnection could be the Universe’s favorite way to make things explode. It operates anywhere magnetic fields pervade space–which is to say almost everywhere. On the sun magnetic reconnection causes solar flares as powerful as a billion atomic bombs. In Earth’s atmosphere, it fuels magnetic storms and auroras. In laboratories, it can cause big problems in fusion reactors. It’s ubiquitous.
The problem is, researchers can’t explain it.  [Ancient History]

The basics are clear enough. Magnetic lines of force cross, cancel, reconnect and—Bang! Magnetic energy is unleashed in the form of heat and charged-particle kinetic energy [On Earth we call this Lightning and Thunder].

Right: A cartoon model of magnetic reconnection on the sun. [more]

But how? How does the simple act of crisscrossing magnetic field lines trigger such a ferocious explosion? [Because they are STRINGS OF DARK MATTER/ENERGY!]

String Interactions

NASA is going to launch a mission to get to the bottom of the mystery. It’s called MMS, short for Magnetospheric Multiscale Mission, and it consists of four spacecraft which will fly through Earth’s magnetosphere to study reconnection in action. The mission passed its preliminary design review in May 2009 and was approved for implementation in June 2009. Engineers can now start building the spacecraft.

Godspeed