title: Ion acceleration during reconnection in MAST.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: EURATOM/UKAEA Fusion Association, Culham Science Centre, Abingdon, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Helander
authors.forename: L-G
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Eriksson
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Akers
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Byrom
authors.forename: C G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Gimblett
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Tournianski