Supra-arcade downflows (hereafter referred to as SADs) are low-emission,
elongated, finger-like features usually observed in active-region coronae above
post-eruption flare arcades. Observations exhibit downward moving SADs
intertwined with bright upward moving spikes. Whereas SADs are dark voids,
spikes are brighter, denser structures. Although SADs have been observed for
decades, the mechanism of formation of SADs remains an open issue. In our
three-dimensional resistive magnetohydrodynamic simulations, we demonstrate
that secondary Rayleigh-Taylor type instabilities develop in the downstream
region of a reconnecting current sheet. The instability results in the
formation of low-density coherent structures that resemble SADs, and
high-density structures that appear to be spike-like. Comparison between the
simulation results and observations suggests that secondary Rayleigh-Taylor
type instabilities in the exhaust of reconnecting current sheets provide a
plausible mechanism for observed SADs and spikes
