Spontaneous Current Sheets in Magnetic Fields

Eugene N. Parker is S. Chandrasekhar Distinguished Service Professor in the Departments of Physics and Astronomy, Enrico Fermi Institute, University of Chicago. One of the founders of the field of space plasma physics, Professor Parker is the recipient of many honors, including the United States National Medal of Science and election to the National Academy of Science, where he served as chairman of the Astronomy section from 1983 to 1986.

1: Introduction
2: The Field Equations
3: Invariance, Degeneracy and Continuous Equations
4: Formal Structure of the Magnetostatic Equations
5: Direct Integration of Equilibrium Equations
6: Examples of Field Discontinuities
7: The Optical Analogy
8: Topology of Tangential Discontinuities
9: Fluid Motions
10: Effects of Resistivity
11: Solar X-ray Emission