Kinetic Verification of the Stochastic Ion Heating Mechanism in Collisionless Magnetic Reconnection
Abstract
The origin of anomalous, non-classical ion heating during magnetic reconnection has been a longstanding problem. It is verified via fully kinetic analyses and particle-in-cell simulations that stochastic heating is the main ion heating mechanism in collisionless magnetic reconnection up to moderate guide fields. Strong in-plane Hall electric fields that form during reconnection render ion motions chaotic and de facto broaden the ion distribution function. The mechanism is consistent with numerous observed features of ion heating in reconnection, such as the preferential heating of ions with higher mass-to-charge ratios and the non-conservation of the ion magnetic moment.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Pub Defense Publication
- Publication Date
- Dec 17, 2019
- Source ID
- 10.3847/2041-8213/ab5b0a
Entities
People
- Paul M. Bellan
- Young Dae Yoon
Organizations
- Air Force Office of Scientific Research
- Office of Science