Kinetic simulation of the VTF magnetic reconnection experiment Original Research Article

A new numerical code is developed to assist the interpretation of experimental results from the Versatile Toroidal Facility (VTF) magnetic reconnection experiment. As input the code applies profiles of magnetic and electric fields consistent with experimental measurements. Applying Liouvilleʹs theorem the code calculates the electron distributions functions. The moments of the distribution function provide the profiles of the electron current density, which are in agreement with the experimental observations. Thus the code provides new insight into the origin of the fast reconnection rates observed in VTF.