File:Cartoon cme tubes plasmoids.png

Schematic depiction of a basic reconnection scenario indicating the general organization of the magnetic field of the various components. Field lines of opposite polarities (heavy dashed, double-dot lines), stretched in the wake of the erupting filament, flow inwards due to magnetic pressure imbalance. The field lines reconnect across the current sheet to form outflowing flux tubes while plasmoids form in the current sheet through instabilities. Wakes (SADs) are formed as the flux tubes retract through hot plasma in the current sheet region above the arcade -- particularly in the late phase of the event. The solid/dashed curved lines extending through the filament and plasmoids represent the general plane and footpoint organization of the magnetic field.