Ion heating and magnetic flux pile-up in a magnetic reconnection experiment with super-Alfvenic plasma inflows
File(s)
Accepted version
Author(s)
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
This work presents a magnetic reconnection experiment in which the kinetic, magnetic, and thermal properties of the plasma each play an important role in the overall energy balance and structure of the generated reconnection layer. Magnetic reconnection occurs during the interaction of continuous and steady flows of super-Alfvénic, magnetized, aluminum plasma, which collide in a geometry with two-dimensional symmetry, producing a stable and long-lasting reconnection layer. Optical Thomson scattering measurements show that when the layer forms, ions inside the layer are more strongly heated than electrons, reaching temperatures of Ti∼Z⎯⎯⎯Te≳300 eV—much greater than can be expected from strong shock and viscous heating alone. Later in time, as the plasma density in the layer increases, the electron and ion temperatures are found to equilibrate, and a constant plasma temperature is achieved through a balance of the heating mechanisms and radiative losses of the plasma. Measurements from Faraday rotation polarimetry also indicate the presence of significant magnetic field pile-up occurring at the boundary of the reconnection region, which is consistent with the super-Alfvénic velocity of the inflows.
Date Issued
2018-04-10
Date Acceptance
2018-03-22
Citation
Physics of Plasmas, 2018, 25 (4)
ISSN
1070-664X
Publisher
AIP Publishing
Journal / Book Title
Physics of Plasmas
Volume
25
Issue
4
Copyright Statement
© 2018 American Institute of Physics. This article may be downloaded for personal use only. Any other use requires prior permission of the author and the American Institute of Physics. The following article appeared in Physics of Plasmas and may be found at https://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.5023664
Sponsor
U.S Department of Energy
Engineering & Physical Science Research Council (EPSRC)
U.S Department of Energy
Identifier
http://gateway.webofknowledge.com/gateway/Gateway.cgi?GWVersion=2&SrcApp=PARTNER_APP&SrcAuth=LinksAMR&KeyUT=WOS:000431142200010&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=ALL_WOS&UsrCustomerID=1ba7043ffcc86c417c072aa74d649202
Grant Number
675350-9958
EP/N013379/1
416729-G
Subjects
Science & Technology
Physical Sciences
Physics, Fluids & Plasmas
Physics
ARRAY Z-PINCHES
LABORATORY PLASMAS
ACCELERATION
PHYSICS
FIELD
Publication Status
Published
Article Number
ARTN 042108
Date Publish Online
2018-04-10