Coupled magnetohydrodynamic and kinetic development of current sheets in the solar corona

Abstract

This review considers (1) the stabilization of current sheets by shear flows, (2) the dynamical behaviour of coronal current sheets due to the interaction of magnetohydrodynamic (i.e., tearing and coalescence) and kinetic currentdriven instabilities, (3) the resulting spatial and temporal scales of energy release, (4) the acceleration of particles in such an environment. The dynamical current sheet model naturally explains fragmentary energy release, and it may lead to a better understanding of particle acceleration and of the cross-field propagation of the flare disturbance.