Three snapshots showing the temporal evolution of the magnetic field and the current density in the standard case (Table 1). Blue lines: magnetic field-lines initially placed near the axis of the flux-rope. Yellow lines: magnetic field-lines initially crossing the periphery of the flux rope and the background field. The yellow volumes represent the current density distribution (light/dark yellow corresponding to moderate/strong amplitudes). The inner (blue) magnetic field-lines are concentrated well within the current-carrying region (hence hidden in the first two panels) before the reconnection event takes place. The instants represented correspond to the initial state (t = 0 s), to the peak in magnetic energy release rate (t = 75 s), and to the relaxation phase (t = 118 s).