Reconnection rate of magnetic‐field lines in hydromagnetic plasma turbulence

Rates of magnetic reconnection are investigated in terms of the spectral functions of magnetic‐field turbulence and the density of magnetic helicity. It has been shown that Parker’s scaling of the reconnection rates, sustained through observations in astrophysical and laboratory settings, is a consequence of transverse magnetic fluctuations generated by the influx of fields and plasmas into a reconnection cell, an idea corroborating that of ‘‘forced’’ reconnection. Three‐dimensional and helicity‐dependent effects in the reconnection processes are also analyzed.