Direct Measurement of Electron Heating in Electron-Only Reconnection in a Laboratory Mini-Magnetosphere

TL;DR

This paper presents the first direct laboratory measurement of electron heating during electron-only magnetic reconnection in mini-magnetospheres, combining experimental data and simulations.

Contribution

It demonstrates the experimental observation of electron heating in electron-only reconnection within a laboratory mini-magnetosphere, supported by detailed measurements and simulations.

Findings

Electron temperature increased from 1.8 eV to 9.5 eV during reconnection.

40% of Poynting flux was converted into electron enthalpy flux.

Particle-in-cell simulations provided insights into heating mechanisms.

Abstract

We report on the experimental observation of electron heating in electron-only magnetic reconnection in laser-driven laboratory mini-magnetospheres on the Large Plasma Device (LAPD) at the University of California, Los Angeles. In this experiment, a fast-flowing plasma impacts a pulsed magnetic dipole embedded within LAPD's magnetized ambient plasma, creating an ion-scale magnetosphere and driving electron-only magnetic reconnection between the background and dipole field lines. The electron velocity distribution is measured across the reconnection region using non-collective Thomson scattering, enabling determination of electron temperature and density. Significant electron heating is observed in the electron diffusion region, increasing from an initial temperature of 1.8 eV to 9.5 eV, corresponding to a 40\% conversion of Poynting flux into electron enthalpy flux. Particle-in-cell simulations that provide insights into the heating mechanisms are also presented.