title: Observation of ion acceleration and heating during collisionless magnetic reconnection in a laboratory plasma.
abstract: The ion dynamics in a collisionless magnetic reconnection layer are studied in a laboratory plasma. The measured in-plane plasma potential profile, which is established by electrons accelerated around the electron diffusion region, shows a saddle-shaped structure that is wider and deeper towards the outflow direction. This potential structure ballistically accelerates ions near the separatrices toward the outflow direction. Ions are heated as they travel into the high-pressure downstream region.
authors.affiliation: Center for Magnetic Self-organization in Laboratory and Astrophysical Plasmas, Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory, Princeton, New Jersey 08543, USA. jyoo@pppl.gov
authors.forename: Jongsoo
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yoo
authors.forename: Masaaki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yamada
authors.forename: Hantao
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ji
authors.forename: Clayton E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Myers