Particle Acceleration at a Reconnecting Magnetic Separator

Abstract:

We present first results of test particle orbit calculations in two different environments which model separator reconnection in three dimensions. The test particle (electron and proton) orbits are calculated using the relativistic guiding-centre approximation. We compare and contrast test particle orbits in a time-dependent (analytical) electro-magnetic field configuration with those based upon the results of large-scale (numerical) 3D MHD simulations of a reconnecting magnetic separator. We will discuss how the test-particle orbits and the energy gain depend on the initial conditions, and how observations (for example, of solar flares) may be used to constrain model parameters.