Direct ion heating through MHD relaxation

Dissipative power deposition through magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) relaxation into electrons and ions has been studied using classical resistivity and viscosity coefficients. In the reconnection process, perturbation currents (electron flow) and perturbation vortices (ion flow) are dissipated by resistivity and viscosity, respectively. An excess of electromagnetic energy is released through the MHD relaxation process and is mainly dissipated by the ion viscosity, resulting in direct heating of ions. (author). Letter-to-the-editor. 23 refs