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Pair-loaded electron-only magnetic reconnection using laser-driven capacitor coils

Brandon K. Russell1,*, Qian Qian2, Rebecca Fitzgarrald2, Yang Zhang1,3, Stepan S. Bulanov4, Sergei V. Bulanov5,6, Hui Chen7, Lan Gao8, Gabriele M. Grittani5 et al.

Xiaocan Li9, Kian Orr10, Geoffrey Pomraning1, Kevin M. Schoeffler11, Alexander G. R. Thomas2, and Hantao Ji1,8

  • *Contact author: br2114@princeton.edu
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Phys. Rev. Research 8, 043004 – Published 5 October, 2026

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/254n-wwyj

Abstract

We propose and simulate a laboratory platform to study the effects of positrons in magnetic reconnection using laser-driven capacitor coils. Using particle-in-cell simulations, we show that externally injected MeV electron-positron pairs are trapped in the coil current sheet, significantly modifying the reconnection dynamics and particle acceleration. These pairs increase the reconnection rate by a factor of approximately 8, which Ohm's law decomposition reveals to be driven by the divergence of the generalized pressure tensor. Based on their high energy and magnetization, the pairs also substantially broaden the diffusion region. Particle tracking simulations in realistic coil magnetic fields further demonstrate that injected pairs can remain confined for several picoseconds, providing conditions for sustained interaction with the reconnection region. These results establish a near-term pathway to first laboratory studies of positron-influenced reconnection, bridging high-energy-density experiments with pair-dominated astrophysical environments.

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Phys. Rev. Research 8, 043004– Published 5 October, 2026
  • Received 16 March 2026
  • Accepted 20 August 2026
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