Formation and structure of a current sheet in pulsed-power driven
magnetic reconnection experiments
magnetic reconnection experiments
File(s)1705.10594v1.pdf (8.84 MB)
Accepted version
Author(s)
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
We describe magnetic reconnection experiments using a new, pulsed-power
driven experimental platform in which the inflows are super-sonic but
sub-Alfv\'enic.The intrinsically magnetised plasma flows are long lasting,
producing a well-defined reconnection layer that persists over many
hydrodynamic time scales.The layer is diagnosed using a suite of high
resolution laser based diagnostics which provide measurements of the electron
density, reconnecting magnetic field, inflow and outflow velocities and the
electron and ion temperatures.Using these measurements we observe a balance
between the power flow into and out of the layer, and we find that the heating
rates for the electrons and ions are significantly in excess of the classical
predictions. The formation of plasmoids is observed in laser interferometry and
optical self-emission, and the magnetic O-point structure of these plasmoids is
confirmed using magnetic probes.
driven experimental platform in which the inflows are super-sonic but
sub-Alfv\'enic.The intrinsically magnetised plasma flows are long lasting,
producing a well-defined reconnection layer that persists over many
hydrodynamic time scales.The layer is diagnosed using a suite of high
resolution laser based diagnostics which provide measurements of the electron
density, reconnecting magnetic field, inflow and outflow velocities and the
electron and ion temperatures.Using these measurements we observe a balance
between the power flow into and out of the layer, and we find that the heating
rates for the electrons and ions are significantly in excess of the classical
predictions. The formation of plasmoids is observed in laser interferometry and
optical self-emission, and the magnetic O-point structure of these plasmoids is
confirmed using magnetic probes.
Date Issued
2017-09-22
Date Acceptance
2017-09-03
Citation
Physics of Plasmas, 2017, 24
ISSN
1070-664X
Publisher
AIP Publishing
Journal / Book Title
Physics of Plasmas
Volume
24
Copyright Statement
© 2017 The Authors. Published by AIP Publishing.
Sponsor
U.S Department of Energy
Engineering & Physical Science Research Council (EPSRC)
U.S Department of Energy
Identifier
http://arxiv.org/abs/1705.10594v2
Grant Number
675350-9958
EP/N013379/1
416729-G
Subjects
physics.plasm-ph
physics.plasm-ph
Notes
14 pages, 12 figures. Accepted for publication in Physics of Plasmas
Article Number
102703