Ion Acceleration during Reconnection in MAST

P. Helander, L.-G. Eriksson, R. J. Akers, C. Byrom, C. G. Gimblett, and M. R. Tournianski

Phys. Rev. Lett. 89, 235002 – Published 18 November 2002

Abstract

Spontaneous acceleration of ions to suprathermal energies is observed during magnetic reconnection in the Mega-Ampere Spherical Tokamak (MAST). A high-energy tail is observed in the ion-distribution function following each internal reconnection event in Ohmic discharges. This phenomenon is explained in terms of runaway ion acceleration in the electric field induced by the reconnection.

Received 6 February 2002

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.89.235002

Authors & Affiliations

P. Helander¹, L.-G. Eriksson², R. J. Akers¹, C. Byrom^1,3, C. G. Gimblett¹, and M. R. Tournianski¹

¹EURATOM/UKAEA Fusion Association, Culham Science Centre, Abingdon, United Kingdom
²Association EURATOM-CEA sur la Fusion, CEA Cadarache, St. Paul lez Durance, France
³Department of Physics, UMIST, Manchester, United Kingdom

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Vol. 89, Iss. 23 — 2 December 2002

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Physical Review Letters

Ion Acceleration during Reconnection in MAST

P. Helander, L.-G. Eriksson, R. J. Akers, C. Byrom, C. G. Gimblett, and M. R. Tournianski

Phys. Rev. Lett. 89, 235002 – Published 18 November 2002

Abstract

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