Generation and confinement of hot ions and electrons in MST

During impulsive magnetic tearing and reconnection in MST, many MW of ion heating power are derived from the energy stored in the magnetic field, causing T$_{i}$ to jump well above 1 keV. By subsequently and quickly suppressing the reconnection, ion energy confinement is improved at least ten-fold, and T$_{i}$ above 1 keV is retained in the plasma. During the period of reconnection suppression, electron energy confinement is also improved, and the ohmically-heated electrons reach a temperature approaching 2 keV. Impulsive reconnection is a common feature of MST plasmas, driven by peaking of the current profile, but in this work, the reconnection and conversion of magnetic energy is intensified. Reconnection suppression is achieved with the now-standard PPCD technique, wherein parallel current is inductively driven to flatten the current profile.