Laboratory Observations of Electron Heating and Non-Maxwellian Distributions at the Kinetic Scale during Electron-Only Magnetic Reconnection

Shi, Peiyun; Srivastav, Prabhakar; Barbhuiya, M. Hasan; Cassak, Paul A.; Scime, Earl E.; Swisdak, M.

doi:10.1103/physrevlett.128.025002

Title: Laboratory Observations of Electron Heating and Non-Maxwellian Distributions at the Kinetic Scale during Electron-Only Magnetic Reconnection

Journal Article · 10 January 2022 · Physical Review Letters

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevlett.128.025002 · OSTI ID:1897684

^[1]; Srivastav, Prabhakar ^[2];

^[2];

^[3]

West Virginia Univ., Morgantown, WV (United States); West Virginia University
West Virginia Univ., Morgantown, WV (United States)
Univ. of Maryland, College Park, MD (United States)

Non-Maxwellian electron velocity distribution functions composed of a warm bulk population and a cold beam are directly measured during electron-only reconnection with a strong out-of-plane (guide) magnetic field in a laboratory plasma. Electron heating is localized to the separatrix, and the electron temperature increases continuously along the separatrix. The measured gain in enthalpy flux is 70% of the incoming Poynting flux. The electron beams are oppositely directed on either side of the X point, and their velocities are comparable to, and scale with, the electron Alfven speed. Particle-in-cell simulations are consistent with the measurements. Furthermore, the experimental results are consistent with, and go beyond, recent observations in the magnetosheath.

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Research Organization:: West Virginia Univ., Morgantown, WV (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE Office of Science (SC), Fusion Energy Sciences (FES)

Grant/Contract Number:: SC0020294; AC02-05CH11231

OSTI ID:: 1897684

Journal Information:: Physical Review Letters, Journal Name: Physical Review Letters Journal Issue: 2 Vol. 128; ISSN 0031-9007

Publisher:: American Physical Society (APS)Copyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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