Non-thermal Acceleration from Reconnection Shocks

Abstract

Reconnection shocks in a magnetically dominated plasma must be compressive. Non-thermal ion acceleration can occur across built-in slow shocks, and across outflow fast shocks when the outflow is supermagnetosonic and the field is line-tied. Electron acceleration may be initiated by injection from the dissipation region. Reconnection and shock acceleration thus cooperate and non-thermal acceleration should be a characteristic feature.