Study of energy conversion and partitioning in the magnetic reconnection layer of a laboratory plasmaa)

• DOI: 10.1063/1.4920960
• Publication Date: 2015-05-15T17:00:37Z
• Authors: Masaaki Yamada; Jongsoo Yoo; Jonathan Jara-Alm...; William Daughton; Hantao Ji; Russell M. Kulsrud; Clayton E. Myers
• Keywords: 0103 physical sciences; 7. Clean energy; 01 natural sciences

While the most important feature of magnetic reconnection is that it energizes plasma particles by converting energy to particle energy, exact mechanisms which this happens are yet be determined despite a long history research. Recently, we have reported our results on conversion and partitioning in laboratory layer short communication [Yamada et al., Nat. Commun. 5, 4474 (2014)]. The present paper detailed elaboration report together with an additional dataset different boundary sizes. Our experimental study carried out two-fluid physics regime where ions electrons move quite differently. We observed occurs across region significantly larger than narrow electron diffusion region. A saddle shaped electrostatic potential profile exists plane, accelerated resulting electric field at separatrices. These then thermalized re-magnetization downstream quantitative inventory converted presented well-defined, variable boundary. also systematic effects conditions inventory. This concludes about 50% inflowing 2/3 ultimately transferred 1/3 electrons. Assisted another set experiment data numerical simulations sizes monitoring box, features do not depend size range tested from 1.5 4 ion skin depths.