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

• Published in: Nature communications 2014-09, Vol.5 (1), p.4774-4774, Article 4774
• Main Authors: Yamada, Masaaki, Yoo, Jongsoo, Jara-Almonte, Jonathan, Ji, Hantao, Kulsrud, Russell M., Myers, Clayton E.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 639/766/1960; 639/766/419; 70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY; Astrophysics; Energy dissipation; Humanities and Social Sciences; Laboratories; multidisciplinary; Physics; Plasma; Reconnection; Science; Science (multidisciplinary); Star & galaxy formation
• ISSN: 2041-1723; 2041-1723
• DOI: 10.1038/ncomms5774

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 towards resolving one of the most important problems in plasma physics. Magnetic reconnection is believed to play a key role in the acceleration and heating of particles in astrophysical plasmas but the details are unclear. Yamada et al . study reconnection in a laboratory plasma, enabling them to determine the exact mechanisms of energy flow from magnetic field to particles.