Physics – Plasma Physics
Scientific paper
Dec 2010
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2010agufmsh33a1813d&link_type=abstract
American Geophysical Union, Fall Meeting 2010, abstract #SH33A-1813
Physics
Plasma Physics
[7835] Space Plasma Physics / Magnetic Reconnection, [7845] Space Plasma Physics / Particle Acceleration
Scientific paper
We explore particle acceleration during magnetic reconnection in a low-β environment relevant to flares and the near-coronaal streamer belt with PIC simulations and analysis. We treat a model system with multiple current layers and an ambient guide magnetic field. We follow reconnection to late time where magnetic energy release takes place during island formation and merging. Both ions and electrons gain substantial energy during the interaction with many magnetic islands. In spite of the low-β initial condition, particle heating continues until the plasma bumps against the marginal firehose condition. Thus, as in anti-parallel reconnection the marginal firehose condition is expected to limit magnetic energy release. A simple model for particle acceleration based on Fermi reflection in contracting islands and convective loss yields powerlaw distributions with a spectral index of 1.5, consistent with the Fisk-Gloeckler measurements of super Alfvenic ions.
Drake James F.
Swisdak Michael
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