title: Conversion of magnetic energy in the magnetic reconnection layer of a laboratory plasma.
abstract: Magnetic reconnection, in which magnetic field lines break and reconnect to change their topology, occurs throughout the universe. The essential feature of reconnection is that it energizes plasma particles by converting magnetic energy. Despite the long history of reconnection research, how this energy conversion occurs remains a major unresolved problem in plasma physics. Here we report that the energy conversion in a laboratory reconnection layer occurs in a much larger region than previously considered. The mechanisms for energizing plasma particles in the reconnection layer are identified, and a quantitative inventory of the converted energy is presented for the first time in a well-defined reconnection layer; 50% of the magnetic energy is converted to particle energy, 2/3 of which transferred to ions and 1/3 to electrons. Our results are compared with simulations and space measurements, for a key step towards resolving one of the most important problems in plasma physics.
authors.affiliation: Center for Magnetic Self-organization, Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey 08544, USA.
authors.forename: Masaaki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yamada
authors.affiliation: Center for Magnetic Self-organization, Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey 08544, USA.
authors.forename: Jongsoo
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yoo
authors.affiliation: Center for Magnetic Self-organization, Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey 08544, USA.
authors.forename: Jonathan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jara-Almonte
authors.affiliation: Center for Magnetic Self-organization, Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey 08544, USA.
authors.forename: Hantao
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ji
authors.affiliation: Center for Magnetic Self-organization, Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey 08544, USA.
authors.forename: Russell M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Kulsrud
authors.affiliation: Center for Magnetic Self-organization, Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey 08544, USA.
authors.forename: Clayton E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Myers