Laboratory Observations of Spontaneous Magnetic Reconnection

Journal Article · Fri Jan 05 04:00:00 EST 2007 · Physical Review Letters

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PHYSREVLETT.98.015003· OSTI ID:20861583

Egedal, J; Fox, W; Katz, N; Porkolab, M; Reim, K; Zhang, E ^[1]

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

Detailed measurements of spontaneous magnetic reconnection are presented. The experimental data, which were obtained in the new closed Versatile Toroidal Facility magnetic configuration, document the profile evolution of the plasma density, magnetic flux function, reconnection rate, and the current density during a spontaneous reconnection event in the presence of a strong guide magnetic field. The reconnection process is at first slow, which allows magnetic stress to build in the system while the current channel becomes increasingly narrow and intense. The onset of a fast reconnection event occurs as the width of the current channel approaches the ion-sound-Larmor radius {rho}{sub s}. During the reconnection event magnetically stored energy is channeled into energetic ion outflows and a rapid increase in the electron temperature.

• OSTI ID: 20861583
• Journal Information: Physical Review Letters, Journal Name: Physical Review Letters Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 98; ISSN 0031-9007; ISSN PRLTAO
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
CURRENT DENSITY
ELECTRON TEMPERATURE
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
LARMOR RADIUS
MAGNETIC FIELDS
MAGNETIC FLUX
MAGNETIC RECONNECTION
PLASMA DENSITY
SOUND WAVES
STORED ENERGY
TAIL IONS