Magnetic Reconnection in Turbulent Plasmas and Gamma Ray Bursts
  We discuss how the model of magnetic reconnection in the presence of
turbulence proposed inLazarian & Vishniac 1999 makes the reconnection rate
independent either of resistivity or microscopic plasma effects, but determined
entirely by the magnetic field line wandering induced by turbulence. We explain
that the model accounts for both fast and slow regimes of reconnection and that
this property naturally induces flares of reconnection in low beta plasma
environments. In addition, we show that the model involves volume reconnection
which can convert a substantial part of the energy into energetic particles. It
is important that the reconnection induces an efficient acceleration of the
first order Fermi type. Finally, we relate the properties of the reconnection
with the observed properties of gamma ray bursts and provide evidence
supporting the explanation of gamma ray bursts based on energy release via
reconnection.
