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Title: Spatially Resolved Measurements of Ion Heating during Impulsive Reconnection in the Madison Symmetric Torus

Abstract

The impurity ion temperature evolution has been measured during three types of impulsive reconnection events in the Madison Symmetric Torus reversed field pinch. During an edge reconnection event, the drop in stored magnetic energy is small and ion heating is observed to be limited to the outer half of the plasma. Conversely, during a global reconnection event the drop in stored magnetic energy is large, and significant heating is observed at all radii. For both kinds of events, the drop in magnetic energy is sufficient to explain the increase in ion thermal energy. However, not all types of reconnection lead to ion heating. During a core reconnection event, both the stored magnetic energy and impurity ion temperature remain constant. The results suggest that a drop in magnetic energy is required for ions to be heated during reconnection, and that when this occurs heating is localized near the reconnection layer.

Authors:
; ; ; ; ;  [1]
  1. University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin (United States) and Center for Magnetic Self-Organization in Laboratory and Astrophysical Plasmas, Madison, Wisconsin 53706 (United States)
Publication Date:
OSTI Identifier:
20955469
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Journal Name:
Physical Review Letters
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 98; Journal Issue: 7; Other Information: DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.98.075001; (c) 2007 The American Physical Society; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); Journal ID: ISSN 0031-9007
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY; ION TEMPERATURE; LAYERS; PLASMA; PLASMA HEATING; REVERSED-FIELD PINCH DEVICES

Citation Formats

Gangadhara, S, Craig, D, Ennis, D A, Hartog, D J. Den, Fiksel, G, and Prager, S C. Spatially Resolved Measurements of Ion Heating during Impulsive Reconnection in the Madison Symmetric Torus. United States: N. p., 2007. Web. doi:10.1103/PHYSREVLETT.98.075001.
Gangadhara, S, Craig, D, Ennis, D A, Hartog, D J. Den, Fiksel, G, & Prager, S C. Spatially Resolved Measurements of Ion Heating during Impulsive Reconnection in the Madison Symmetric Torus. United States. https://doi.org/10.1103/PHYSREVLETT.98.075001
Gangadhara, S, Craig, D, Ennis, D A, Hartog, D J. Den, Fiksel, G, and Prager, S C. 2007. "Spatially Resolved Measurements of Ion Heating during Impulsive Reconnection in the Madison Symmetric Torus". United States. https://doi.org/10.1103/PHYSREVLETT.98.075001.
@article{osti_20955469,
title = {Spatially Resolved Measurements of Ion Heating during Impulsive Reconnection in the Madison Symmetric Torus},
author = {Gangadhara, S and Craig, D and Ennis, D A and Hartog, D J. Den and Fiksel, G and Prager, S C},
abstractNote = {The impurity ion temperature evolution has been measured during three types of impulsive reconnection events in the Madison Symmetric Torus reversed field pinch. During an edge reconnection event, the drop in stored magnetic energy is small and ion heating is observed to be limited to the outer half of the plasma. Conversely, during a global reconnection event the drop in stored magnetic energy is large, and significant heating is observed at all radii. For both kinds of events, the drop in magnetic energy is sufficient to explain the increase in ion thermal energy. However, not all types of reconnection lead to ion heating. During a core reconnection event, both the stored magnetic energy and impurity ion temperature remain constant. The results suggest that a drop in magnetic energy is required for ions to be heated during reconnection, and that when this occurs heating is localized near the reconnection layer.},
doi = {10.1103/PHYSREVLETT.98.075001},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/20955469}, journal = {Physical Review Letters},
issn = {0031-9007},
number = 7,
volume = 98,
place = {United States},
year = {Fri Feb 16 00:00:00 EST 2007},
month = {Fri Feb 16 00:00:00 EST 2007}
}