The role of helicity in the reconnection process

The change of helicity for magnetic reconnection is calculated with the help of a kinematic model. The results confirm the approximate conservation of magnetic helicity for reconnection in an almost ideal plasma as e. g. the solar corona. Different examples show the contributions of twist or linkage of flux tubes to the total helicity change in the process. However, they also show that helicity may be produced for reconnection processes in more extended non-ideal regions which is due to new magnetic flux linked to the reconnected flux tubes.