Slowing of magnetic reconnection concurrent with weakening plasma inflows and increasing collisionality in strongly-driven laser-plasma experiments

Rosenberg, M.  J.; Li, C.  K.; Fox, W.; Zylstra, A.  B.; Stoeckl, C.; Séguin, F.  H.; Frenje, J.  A.; Petrasso, R. D.

doi:10.1103/PhysRevLett.114.205004

Title: Slowing of magnetic reconnection concurrent with weakening plasma inflows and increasing collisionality in strongly-driven laser-plasma experiments

Journal Article · Wed May 20 00:00:00 EDT 2015 · Physical Review Letters

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.114.205004· OSTI ID:1182197

Rosenberg, M. J. ^[1]; Li, C. K. ^[1]; Fox, W. ^[2]; Zylstra, A. B. ^[1]; Stoeckl, C. ^[3]; Séguin, F. H. ^[1]; Frenje, J. A. ^[1]; Petrasso, R. D. ^[1]

MIT (Massachusetts Inst. of Technology), Cambridge, MA (United States)
Princeton Plasma Physics Lab. (PPPL), Princeton, NJ (United States)
University of Rochester, Rochester, NY (United States). Laboratory for Laser Energetics.

An evolution of magnetic reconnection behavior, from fast jets to the slowing of reconnection and the establishment of a stable current sheet, has been observed in strongly-driven, β ≲ 20 laser-produced plasma experiments. This process has been inferred to occur alongside a slowing of plasma inflows carrying the oppositely-directed magnetic fields as well as the evolution of plasma conditions from collisionless to collisional. High-resolution proton radiography has revealed unprecedented detail of the forced interaction of magnetic fields and super-Alfvénic electron jets (V_jet~ 20V_A) ejected from the reconnection region, indicating that two-fluid or collisionless magnetic reconnection occurs early in time. The absence of jets and the persistence of strong, stable magnetic fields at late times indicates that the reconnection process slows down, while plasma flows stagnate and plasma conditions evolve to a cooler, denser, more collisional state. These results demonstrate that powerful initial plasma flows are not sufficient to force a complete reconnection of magnetic fields, even in the strongly-driven regime.

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Research Organization:: Massachusetts Inst. of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, MA (United States). Plasma Science and Fusion Center

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)

Grant/Contract Number:: NA0001857; NA0002035; 415935-G; 5-24431

OSTI ID:: 1182197

Alternate ID(s):: OSTI ID: 1182431

Journal Information:: Physical Review Letters, Vol. 114, Issue 20; ISSN 0031-9007

Publisher:: American Physical Society (APS)Copyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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Cited by: 30 works

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