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Title: Analysis of visible light images from a fast-gated intensified charge coupled device camera during flux rope interaction and magnetic reconnection

Abstract

We present the experimental setup and analysis of visible light images from a fast double-gated intensified charge coupled device (CCD) camera currently being used on the reconnection scaling experiment (RSX) at the Los Alamos National Laboratory. In RSX, externally driven free-boundary flux ropes are generated for magnetic reconnection studies in collisional plasma. Time-resolved images of flux rope interaction on submicrosecond time scales are achieved through the use of a microchannel plate intensified CCD camera and are shown to be consistent with probe measurements of plasma pressure and magnetic structure. High experimental repeatability allows plasma evolution to be displayed and measured from images taken over hundreds of RSX discharges to elucidate flux rope interaction dynamics. Peak-intensity fit algorithms extrapolate rope separation and two-dimensional rope velocities from images in agreement with probe data. First glimpses of two flux ropes that twist and merge are presented.

Authors:
; ; ;  [1]
  1. Los Alamos National Laboratory, M.S. E526, Los Alamos, New Mexico 87545 (United States)
Publication Date:
OSTI Identifier:
20641244
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Journal Name:
Review of Scientific Instruments
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 75; Journal Issue: 10; Conference: 15. topical conference on high temperature plasma diagnostics, San Diego, CA (United States), 19-22 Apr 2004; Other Information: DOI: 10.1063/1.1787169; (c) 2004 American Institute of Physics; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); Journal ID: ISSN 0034-6748
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY; ALGORITHMS; CHARGE-COUPLED DEVICES; COLLISIONAL PLASMA; ELECTRIC DISCHARGES; IMAGES; LANL; MAGNETIC RECONNECTION; PLASMA PRESSURE; PLATES; TIME RESOLUTION

Citation Formats

Hemsing, E, Furno, I, Intrator, T, Wei, D, and Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139. Analysis of visible light images from a fast-gated intensified charge coupled device camera during flux rope interaction and magnetic reconnection. United States: N. p., 2004. Web. doi:10.1063/1.1787169.
Hemsing, E, Furno, I, Intrator, T, Wei, D, & Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139. Analysis of visible light images from a fast-gated intensified charge coupled device camera during flux rope interaction and magnetic reconnection. United States. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.1787169
Hemsing, E, Furno, I, Intrator, T, Wei, D, and Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139. 2004. "Analysis of visible light images from a fast-gated intensified charge coupled device camera during flux rope interaction and magnetic reconnection". United States. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.1787169.
@article{osti_20641244,
title = {Analysis of visible light images from a fast-gated intensified charge coupled device camera during flux rope interaction and magnetic reconnection},
author = {Hemsing, E and Furno, I and Intrator, T and Wei, D and Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139},
abstractNote = {We present the experimental setup and analysis of visible light images from a fast double-gated intensified charge coupled device (CCD) camera currently being used on the reconnection scaling experiment (RSX) at the Los Alamos National Laboratory. In RSX, externally driven free-boundary flux ropes are generated for magnetic reconnection studies in collisional plasma. Time-resolved images of flux rope interaction on submicrosecond time scales are achieved through the use of a microchannel plate intensified CCD camera and are shown to be consistent with probe measurements of plasma pressure and magnetic structure. High experimental repeatability allows plasma evolution to be displayed and measured from images taken over hundreds of RSX discharges to elucidate flux rope interaction dynamics. Peak-intensity fit algorithms extrapolate rope separation and two-dimensional rope velocities from images in agreement with probe data. First glimpses of two flux ropes that twist and merge are presented.},
doi = {10.1063/1.1787169},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/20641244}, journal = {Review of Scientific Instruments},
issn = {0034-6748},
number = 10,
volume = 75,
place = {United States},
year = {Fri Oct 01 00:00:00 EDT 2004},
month = {Fri Oct 01 00:00:00 EDT 2004}
}