Abstract
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 point, and their velocities are comparable to, and scale with, the electron Alfvén speed. Particle-in-cell simulations are consistent with the measurements. The experimental results are consistent with, and go beyond, recent observations in the magnetosheath.
- Received 6 October 2021
- Accepted 8 December 2021
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.128.025002
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