Detecting Energetic Electrons from Magnetic Reconnection in the PHAse Space MApping (PHASMA) Experiment

The Phase Space Mapping experiment is designed to investigate distribution functions in magnetic reconnection events arising from the merger of two flux ropes generated by two pulsed plasma guns. This results in an opportunity to search for energetic electrons in the out-of-plane direction with the use of a compact retarding field energy analyzer (RFEA). The raw data is differentiated to provide a trace which is interpreted as a particle energy distribution function. Here we describe the instrument design and implementation as well as first results. Traces of energetic electrons in the tails are investigated as a function of magnetic guide field strength and reconnecting field strength.