Understanding the dynamics and energetics of magnetic reconnection in a laboratory plasma: Review of recent progress on selected fronts

• DOI: 10.1063/1.4948721
• Publication Date: 2016-05-11T17:00:43Z
• Authors: Masaaki Yamada; Jongsoo Yoo; Clayton E. Myers
• Keywords: Astrophysical plasma; Plasmoid

Magnetic reconnection is a fundamental process at work in laboratory, space, and astrophysical plasmas, which magnetic field lines change their topology convert energy to plasma particles by acceleration heating. One of the most important problems research has been understand why occurs so much faster than predicted magnetohydrodynamics theory. Following recent pedagogical review this subject [Yamada et al., Rev. Mod. Phys. 82, 603 (2010)], paper presents more discoveries findings fast plasmas. In spite huge difference physical scales, we find remarkable commonality between characteristics laboratory space paper, will focus especially on flow, key feature process. particular, experimental results conversion partitioning layer Nat. Commun. 5, 4474 (2014)] are discussed compared with quantitative estimates based two-fluid analysis. Reconnection Experiment, that deposition electrons localized near X-point mostly from electric component perpendicular field. The mechanisms ion heating also identified, systematic study inventory converted within well-defined but variable boundary. measured partition region similar effective size (L ≈ 3 skin depths) Earth's magneto-tail [Eastwood Lett. 110, 225001 (2013)] notably consistent our results. Finally, global aspects reconnection, have carried out experiment stability criteria for solar flare eruptions, including “storage release” energy. We show toroidal flux generated relaxation (reconnection) processes generates new stabilizing force prevents eruption. This result led us discover flares [Myers Nature 528, 526 (2015)].