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Magnetic reconnection in the relativistic and trans-relativistic regimes isable to accelerate particles to hard power law energy spectra $f \propto\gamma^{-p}$ (approaching $p=1$). The underlying acceleration mechanism thatdetermines the spectral shape is currently a topic of intense investigation. Bymeans of fully kinetic plasma simulations, we carry out a study of particleacceleration during magnetic reconnection in the trans-relativistic regime of aproton-electron plasma. While earlier work in this parameter regime has focusedon the effects of electric field parallel to the local magnetic field on theparticle injection (from thermal energy to the lower energy bound of thepower-law spectrum), here we examine the roles of both parallel andperpendicular electric fields to gain a more complete understanding on theinjection process and further development of a power-law spectrum. We show thatthe parallel electric field does contribute significantly to particleinjection, and is more important in the initial phase of magnetic reconnection.However, as the simulation proceeds, the acceleration by the perpendicularelectric field becomes more important for particle injection and completelydominates the acceleration responsible for the high-energy power-law spectrum.This holds robustly, in particular for longer reconnection times and largersystems, i.e. in simulations that are more indicative of the processes inastrophysical sources.

Exploring the acceleration mechanisms for particle injection and power-law formation during trans-relativistic magnetic reconnection