magnetic topology

{{Short description|Magnetic field structure and linkage}}

In plasma physics, the magnetic topology of a plasma is the structure and linkage of its magnetic field.{{cite journal |last1=Longcope |first1=Dana W. |title=Topological Methods for the Analysis of Solar Magnetic Fields |journal=Living Reviews in Solar Physics |date=2005 |volume=2 |issue=1 |page=7 |doi=10.12942/lrsp-2005-7|doi-access=free |bibcode=2005LRSP....2....7L }}{{cite journal |last1=Hornig |first1=G. |last2=Schindler |first2=K. |title=Magnetic topology and the problem of its invariant definition |journal=Physics of Plasmas |date=March 1996 |volume=3 |issue=3 |pages=781–791 |doi=10.1063/1.871778|bibcode=1996PhPl....3..781H }}

The magnetic topology of a plasma can be changed through magnetic diffusion and reconnection. In the limit of a large magnetic Reynolds number, however, diffusion and reconnection of the magnetic field cannot occur, and the magnetic topology is preserved.{{cite book |editor1-last=Gonzalez |editor1-first=Walter |editor2-last=Parker |editor2-first=Eugene |title=Magnetic reconnection: concepts and applications |date=2016 |publisher=Springer |location=Cham |isbn=978-3-319-26432-5}}{{cite book |last1=Parker |first1=E. N. |title=Cosmical magnetic fields: their origin and their activity |date=1979 |publisher=Clarendon Press |location=Oxford |isbn=0198512902}}