Ion acceleration during reconnection in MAST.
Spontaneous acceleration of ions to suprathermal energies is observed during magnetic reconnection in the Mega-Ampere Spherical Tokamak (MAST). A high-energy tail is observed in the ion-distribution function following each internal reconnection event in Ohmic discharges. This phenomenon is explained in terms of runaway ion acceleration in the electric field induced by the reconnection.
Helander
P
P
EURATOM/UKAEA Fusion Association, Culham Science Centre, Abingdon, United Kingdom.
Eriksson
L-G
LG
Akers
R J
RJ
Byrom
C
C
Gimblett
C G
CG
Tournianski
M R
MR