Structure of a Magnetic Flux Annihilation Layer Formed by the Collision of Supersonic, Magnetized Plasma Flows
File(s)ln14904_final submission.pdf (1.09 MB)
Accepted version
Author(s)
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
We present experiments characterizing the detailed structure of a current layer, generated by the collision of two counterstreaming, supersonic and magnetized aluminum plasma flows. The antiparallel magnetic fields advected by the flows are found to be mutually annihilated inside the layer, giving rise to a bifurcated current structure—two narrow current sheets running along the outside surfaces of the layer. Measurements with Thomson scattering show a fast outflow of plasma along the layer and a high ion temperature (Ti∼Z¯Te, with average ionization Z¯=7). Analysis of the spatially resolved plasma parameters indicates that the advection and subsequent annihilation of the inflowing magnetic flux determines the structure of the layer, while the ion heating could be due to the development of kinetic, current-driven instabilities.
Date Issued
2016-05-31
Date Acceptance
2016-05-05
Citation
Physical Review Letters, 2016, 116
ISSN
1079-7114
Publisher
American Physical Society
Journal / Book Title
Physical Review Letters
Volume
116
Copyright Statement
© 2016 The American Physical Society. Structure of a Magnetic Flux Annihilation Layer Formed by the Collision of Supersonic, Magnetized Plasma Flows
L. G. Suttle, J. D. Hare, S. V. Lebedev, G. F. Swadling, G. C. Burdiak, A. Ciardi, J. P. Chittenden, N. F. Loureiro, N. Niasse, F. Suzuki-Vidal, J. Wu, Q. Yang, T. Clayson, A. Frank, T. S. Robinson, R. A. Smith, and N. Stuart
Phys. Rev. Lett. 116, 225001 – Published 31 May 2016
L. G. Suttle, J. D. Hare, S. V. Lebedev, G. F. Swadling, G. C. Burdiak, A. Ciardi, J. P. Chittenden, N. F. Loureiro, N. Niasse, F. Suzuki-Vidal, J. Wu, Q. Yang, T. Clayson, A. Frank, T. S. Robinson, R. A. Smith, and N. Stuart
Phys. Rev. Lett. 116, 225001 – Published 31 May 2016
Sponsor
Engineering & Physical Science Research Council (EPSRC)
US Department of Energy
US Department of Energy
U.S Department of Energy
Grant Number
EP/G001324/1
415942-G
675350-9958
416729-G
Subjects
General Physics
02 Physical Sciences
Publication Status
Published
Article Number
225001