Production of energetic electrons during magnetic reconnection

Phys Rev Lett. 2005 Mar 11;94(9):095001. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.94.095001. Epub 2005 Mar 9.

Abstract

The production of energetic electrons during magnetic reconnection is explored with full particle simulations and analytic analysis. Density cavities generated along separatrices bounding growing magnetic islands support parallel electric fields that act as plasma accelerators. Electrons because of their low mass are fast enough to make multiple passes through these acceleration cavities and are therefore capable of reaching relativistic energies.