The 1976 Oppenheimer lectures: Critical problems in plasma astrophysics. II. Singular layers and reconnection

The J. Robert Oppenheimer Lectures are given annually at the Institute for Advanced Study, Princeton, New Jersey, by a distinguished visiting scientist who has made outstanding research contributions in a field of current interest and who is recognized for his ability to communicate progress in his area of expertise to a broad spectrum of physical scientists. The lecturer summarizes the progress and significance of work in his field in a series of two talks. The lectures are named in honor of J. Robert Oppenheimer, former Professor in the School of Natural Sciences, Institute for Advanced Study, and the third Director of the Institute. This paper presents the text of the second lecture on the topic of singular layers and reconnection.