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An experimental platform for pulsed-power driven magnetic reconnection

Journal Article · · Physics of Plasmas
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.5016280· OSTI ID:2567931

We describe a versatile pulsed-power driven platform for magnetic reconnection experiments, based on the exploding wire arrays driven in parallel [Suttle et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 116, 225001 (2016)]. This platform produces inherently magnetised plasma flows for the duration of the generator current pulse (250 ns), resulting in a long-lasting reconnection layer. The layer exists for long enough to allow the evolution of complex processes such as plasmoid formation and movement to be diagnosed by a suite of high spatial and temporal resolution laser-based diagnostics. We can access a wide range of magnetic reconnection regimes by changing the wire material or moving the electrodes inside the wire arrays. We present results with aluminium and carbon wires, in which the parameters of the inflows and the layer that forms are significantly different. By moving the electrodes inside the wire arrays, we change how strongly the inflows are driven. This enables us to study both symmetric reconnection in a range of different regimes and asymmetric reconnection.

Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE
Grant/Contract Number:
SC0001063; SC0016215
OSTI ID:
2567931
Alternate ID(s):
OSTI ID: 1425251
OSTI ID: 1499647
Journal Information:
Physics of Plasmas, Journal Name: Physics of Plasmas Journal Issue: 5 Vol. 25; ISSN 1070-664X
Publisher:
American Institute of PhysicsCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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