Laboratory observations of electron energization and associated lower-hybrid and Trivelpiece-Gould wave turbulence during magnetic reconnection

Journal Article · Thu Jul 15 00:00:00 EDT 2010 · Physics of Plasmas

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.3435216· OSTI ID:21389102

Fox, W; Porkolab, M; Egedal, J; Katz, N; Le, A ^[1]

---

1. Department of Physics and Plasma Science and Fusion Center, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139 (United States)

This work presents an experimental study of current-driven turbulence in a plasma undergoing magnetic reconnection in a low-beta, strong-guide-field regime. Electrostatic fluctuations are observed by small, high-bandwidth, and impedance-matched Langmuir probes. The observed modes, identified by their characteristic frequency and wavelength, include lower-hybrid fluctuations and high-frequency Trivelpiece-Gould modes. The observed waves are believed to arise from electrons energized by the reconnection process via direct bump-on-tail instability (Trivelpiece-Gould) or gradients in the fast electron population (lower-hybrid).

• OSTI ID: 21389102
• Journal Information: Physics of Plasmas, Vol. 17, Issue 7; Other Information: DOI: 10.1063/1.3435216; (c) 2010 American Institute of Physics; ISSN 1070-664X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
ELECTRONS
FLUCTUATIONS
LANGMUIR PROBE
LOWER HYBRID HEATING
MAGNETIC RECONNECTION
PLASMA
PLASMA WAVES
TURBULENCE
ELECTRIC PROBES
ELEMENTARY PARTICLES
FERMIONS
HEATING
HIGH-FREQUENCY HEATING
LEPTONS
PLASMA HEATING
PROBES
VARIATIONS