Magnetic flux array for spontaneous magnetic reconnection experiments

Journal Article · Sun Jun 15 04:00:00 EDT 2008 · Review of Scientific Instruments

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.2937193· OSTI ID:21123948

Kesich, A; Bonde, J; Egedal, J; Fox, W; Goodwin, R; Katz, N; Le, A ^[1]

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

Experimental investigation of reconnection in magnetized plasmas relies on accurate characterization of the evolving magnetic fields. In experimental configurations where the plasma dynamics are reproducible, magnetic data can be collected in multiple discharges and combined to provide spatially resolved profiles of the plasma dynamics. However, in experiments on spontaneous magnetic reconnection recently undertaken at the Versatile Toroidal Facility at MIT, the reconnection process is not reproducible and all information on the plasma must be collected in a single discharge. This paper describes a newly developed magnetic flux array which directly measures the toroidal component of the magnetic vector potential, A{sub {phi}}. From the measured A{sub {phi}}, the magnetic field geometry, current density, and reconnection rate are readily obtained, facilitating studies of the three-dimensional dynamics of spontaneous magnetic reconnection. The novel design of the probe array allows for accurate characterization of profiles of A{sub {phi}} at multiple toroidal angles using a relatively small number of signal channels and with minimal disturbance of the plasma.

• OSTI ID: 21123948
• Journal Information: Review of Scientific Instruments, Journal Name: Review of Scientific Instruments Journal Issue: 6 Vol. 79; ISSN 0034-6748; ISSN RSINAK
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
CONFIGURATION
CURRENT DENSITY
ELECTRIC CURRENTS
GEOMETRY
MAGNETIC FIELDS
MAGNETIC FLUX
MAGNETIC RECONNECTION
MAGNETOHYDRODYNAMICS
PLASMA
PLASMA CONFINEMENT
THREE-DIMENSIONAL CALCULATIONS