Identification of the Electron Diffusion Region during Magnetic Reconnection in a Laboratory Plasma
We report the first identification of the electron diffusion region, where demagnetized electrons are accelerated to super-Alfvenic speed, in a reconnecting laboratory plasma. The electron diffusion region is determined from measurements of the out-of-plane quadrupole magnetic field in the neutral sheet in the Magnetic Reconnection Experiment. The width of the electron diffusion region scales with the electron skin depth (~ 5.5-7.5c=ωpi) and the peak electron outflow velocity scales with the electron Alfven velocity (~ 0.12 - 0.16VeA), independent of ion mass.
- Research Organization:
- Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL), Princeton, NJ (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE Office of Science (SC)
- OSTI ID:
- 958416
- Report Number(s):
- PPPL-4328
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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