Electron acceleration in three-dimensional magnetic reconnection with a guide field

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates that three-dimensional magnetic reconnection with a guide field significantly enhances energetic electron production through stochastic magnetic fields and Fermi-like acceleration, unlike in two-dimensional systems.

Contribution

It reveals that 3D magnetic reconnection enables more efficient electron acceleration via filamentation and stochastic fields, advancing understanding of plasma energization mechanisms.

Findings

3D reconnection produces more energetic electrons than 2D.

Filamentation leads to stochastic magnetic fields facilitating acceleration.

Fermi-like mechanism dominates electron energization in 3D.

Abstract

Kinetic simulations of 3D collisionless magnetic reconnection with a guide field show a dramatic enhancement of energetic electron production when compared with 2D systems. In the 2D systems, electrons are trapped in magnetic islands that limit their energy gain, whereas in the 3D systems the filamentation of the current layer leads to a stochastic magnetic field that enables the electrons to access volume-filling acceleration regions. The dominant accelerator of the most energetic electrons is a Fermi-like mechanism associated with reflection of charged particles from contracting field lines.