A Simulation Study of the Magnetic Reconnections Between Closed Loops and Open Magnetic Fields Driven by Horizontal Flows on Solar Surface

Abstract Numerous observational events in the solar atmosphere (e.g., solar flares and jets) are attributed to the energy conversion due to magnetic reconnec- tions. Magnetic reconnections are also involved in a new scenario of solar wind origin to play a crucial role in opening the closed magnetic loop and releasing its mass into the open magnetic funnel. In this scenario, the closed magnetic loop moves towards the supergranular boundary by the supergranular convection, and collides with the open magnetic funnel there to trigger the magnetic reconnec- tion between each other. This work aims at studying the occurrence and effect of magnetic reconnection in this scenario in detail. The magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) numerical simulation is an important approach to investigate the mag- netic reconnection process in the solar atmosphere. A two-dimensional MHD numerical model has been established, and in combination with the stratified temperature and density distributions in the solar atmosphere, the numerical simulation on the process of magnetic reconnection of the closed magnetic loops driven by the horizontal flows with the open magnetic fields has been performed on the scale of supergranulation. Based on a quantitative analysis of the simula- tion result, it is suggested that the process of magnetic reconnection can really realize the mass release of closed magnetic loops, and further supply to the new open magnetic structures to produce upward mass flows. Our results provide a basis for the further modeling of solar wind origin.