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Title: Two fluid effects on three-dimensional reconnection in the Swarthmore Spheromak Experiment with comparisons to space data

Abstract

Several new experimental results are reported from spheromak merging studies at the Swarthmore Spheromak Experiment [M. R. Brown, Phys. Plasmas 6, 1717 (1999)] with relevance to three-dimensional (3D) reconnection in laboratory and space plasmas. First, recent velocity measurements of impurity ions using ion Doppler spectroscopy are reported. Bidirectional outflow at nearly the Alfven speed is clearly observed. Second, experimental measurements of the out-of-plane magnetic field in a reconnection volume showing a quadrupolar structure at the ion inertial scale are discussed. Third, a measurement of in-plane Hall electric field and nonideal terms of the generalized Ohm's law in a reconnection volume of a weakly collisional laboratory plasma is presented. Time resolved vector magnetic field measurements on a 3D lattice [B(r,t)] enables evaluation of the various terms. Results show that the Hall electric field dominates everywhere (JxB/ne) and also exhibits a quadrupolar structure at the ion inertial scale; resistive and electron inertia terms are small. Each of these is related to and compared with similar measurements in a solar or space context.

Authors:
; ;  [1]
  1. Department of Physics and Astronomy, Center for Magnetic Self Organization, Swarthmore College, Swarthmore, Pennsylvania 19081-1397 (United States)
Publication Date:
OSTI Identifier:
20783171
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Journal Name:
Physics of Plasmas
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 13; Journal Issue: 5; Other Information: DOI: 10.1063/1.2180729; (c) 2006 American Institute of Physics; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); Journal ID: ISSN 1070-664X
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY; COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS; ELECTRIC FIELDS; ELECTRONS; FLUIDS; IONS; MAGNETIC FIELDS; MAGNETOHYDRODYNAMICS; MOMENT OF INERTIA; OHM LAW; PLASMA; PLASMA CONFINEMENT; PLASMA DIAGNOSTICS; PLASMA IMPURITIES; RADIATION TRANSPORT; SPHEROMAK DEVICES; TIME RESOLUTION

Citation Formats

Brown, M R, Cothran, C D, and Fung, J. Two fluid effects on three-dimensional reconnection in the Swarthmore Spheromak Experiment with comparisons to space data. United States: N. p., 2006. Web. doi:10.1063/1.2180729.
Brown, M R, Cothran, C D, & Fung, J. Two fluid effects on three-dimensional reconnection in the Swarthmore Spheromak Experiment with comparisons to space data. United States. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.2180729
Brown, M R, Cothran, C D, and Fung, J. 2006. "Two fluid effects on three-dimensional reconnection in the Swarthmore Spheromak Experiment with comparisons to space data". United States. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.2180729.
@article{osti_20783171,
title = {Two fluid effects on three-dimensional reconnection in the Swarthmore Spheromak Experiment with comparisons to space data},
author = {Brown, M R and Cothran, C D and Fung, J},
abstractNote = {Several new experimental results are reported from spheromak merging studies at the Swarthmore Spheromak Experiment [M. R. Brown, Phys. Plasmas 6, 1717 (1999)] with relevance to three-dimensional (3D) reconnection in laboratory and space plasmas. First, recent velocity measurements of impurity ions using ion Doppler spectroscopy are reported. Bidirectional outflow at nearly the Alfven speed is clearly observed. Second, experimental measurements of the out-of-plane magnetic field in a reconnection volume showing a quadrupolar structure at the ion inertial scale are discussed. Third, a measurement of in-plane Hall electric field and nonideal terms of the generalized Ohm's law in a reconnection volume of a weakly collisional laboratory plasma is presented. Time resolved vector magnetic field measurements on a 3D lattice [B(r,t)] enables evaluation of the various terms. Results show that the Hall electric field dominates everywhere (JxB/ne) and also exhibits a quadrupolar structure at the ion inertial scale; resistive and electron inertia terms are small. Each of these is related to and compared with similar measurements in a solar or space context.},
doi = {10.1063/1.2180729},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/20783171}, journal = {Physics of Plasmas},
issn = {1070-664X},
number = 5,
volume = 13,
place = {United States},
year = {Mon May 15 00:00:00 EDT 2006},
month = {Mon May 15 00:00:00 EDT 2006}
}