  A study of the role of microinstabilities at the reconnection separatrix can
play in heating the electrons during the transition from inflow to outflow is
being presented. We find that very strong flow shears at the separatrix layer
lead to counterstreaming electron distributions in the region around the
separatrix, which become unstable to a beam-type instability. Similar to what
has been seen in earlier research, the ensuing instability leads to the
formation of propagating electrostatic solitons. We show here that this region
of strong electrostatic turbulence is the predominant electron heating site
when transiting from inflow to outflow. The heating is the result of heating
generated by electrostatic turbulence driven by overlapping beams, and its
macroscopic effect is a quasi-viscous contribution to the overall electron
energy balance. We suggest that instabilities at the separatrix can play a key
role in the overall electron energy balance in magnetic reconnection.
