Conversion of magnetic energy in the magnetic reconnection layer of a laboratory plasma

Yamada, Masaaki; Yoo, Jongsoo; Jara-Almonte, Jonathan; Ji, Hantao; Kulsrud, Russell M.; Myers, Clayton E.

doi:10.1038/ncomms5774

Title: Conversion of magnetic energy in the magnetic reconnection layer of a laboratory plasma

Journal Article · Wed Sep 10 00:00:00 EDT 2014 · Nature Communications

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1038/ncomms5774· OSTI ID:1179779

Yamada, Masaaki ^[1]; Yoo, Jongsoo ^[1]; Jara-Almonte, Jonathan ^[1]; Ji, Hantao ^[1]; Kulsrud, Russell M. ^[1]; Myers, Clayton E. ^[1]

Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL), Princeton, NJ (United States). Center for Magnetic Self-Organization

Magnetic reconnection, in which magnetic field lines break and reconnect to change their topology, occurs throughout the universe. The essential feature of reconnection is that it energizes plasma particles by converting magnetic energy. Despite the long history of reconnection research, how this energy conversion occurs remains a major unresolved problem in plasma physics. Here we report that the energy conversion in a laboratory reconnection layer occurs in a much larger region than previously considered. The mechanisms for energizing plasma particles in the reconnection layer are identified, and a quantitative inventory of the converted energy is presented for the first time in a well defined reconnection layer; 50% of the magnetic energy is converted to particle energy, 2/3 of which transferred to ions and 1/3 to electrons. Our results are compared with simulations and space measurements, for a key step toward resolving one of the most important problems in plasma physics.

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Research Organization:: Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL), Princeton, NJ (United States)

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

Grant/Contract Number:: AC02-09CH11466

OSTI ID:: 1179779

Report Number(s):: PPPL-5050; ncomms5774; TRN: US1600648

Journal Information:: Nature Communications, Vol. 5; ISSN 2041-1723

Publisher:: Nature Publishing GroupCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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Cited by: 117 works

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