  We study processes related to magnetic reconnection and plasma turbulence
occurring in the presence of the heliopause (HP) and the heliospheric current
sheet. It is shown that the interaction of plasmoids initiated by magnetic
reconnection may provide connections between the inner and outer heliosheath
and lead to an exchange of particles between the interstellar medium and the
solar wind plasma shocked at the heliospheric termination shock. The magnetic
reconnection may also cause plasma density and magnetic field compressions in
the proximity of the HP. We argue that these phenomena could possibly be
detected by the Voyager spacecraft approaching and crossing the HP. These
results could clarify the concepts of the "magnetic highway" and the
"heliosheath depletion region" recently proposed to explain recent Voyager 1
observations.

Solar and Stellar Astrophysics;Computational Physics;Plasma Physics;Space Physics