skip to main content
OSTI.GOV title logo U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Title: Study of Local Reconnection Physics in a Laboratory Plasma

Abstract

A short review of physics results obtained in the Magnetic Reconnection Experiment (MRX) is given with an emphasis on the local features of magnetic reconnection in a controlled environment. Stable two-dimensional current sheets are formed and sustained by induction using two internal coils. The observed reconnection rates are found to be quantitatively consistent with a generalized Sweet-Parker model which incorporates compressibility, unbalanced upstream-downstream pressure, and the effective resistivity. The latter is significantly enhanced over its classical values in the low collisionality regime. Strong local ion heating is measured by an optical probe during the reconnection process, and at least half of the increased ion energy must be due to nonclassical processes, consistent with the resistivity enhancement. Characteristics of high-frequency electrostatic and electromagnetic fluctuations detected in the current sheet suggest presence of the lower-hybrid-drift-like waves with significant magnetic components. The detailed structures of the current sheet are measured and compared with Harris theory and two-fluid theory.

Authors:
; ; ;
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Princeton Plasma Physics Lab. (PPPL), Princeton, NJ (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE Office of Energy Research (ER) (US)
OSTI Identifier:
786575
Report Number(s):
PPPL-3577
TRN: US0108953
DOE Contract Number:  
AC02-76CH03073
Resource Type:
Technical Report
Resource Relation:
Other Information: PBD: 11 Jun 2001
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY; COMPRESSIBILITY; ELECTROSTATICS; FLUCTUATIONS; HEATING; INDUCTION; LANDAU LIQUID HELIUM THEORY; MAGNETIC RECONNECTION; PLASMA

Citation Formats

Ji, Hantao, Carter, Troy, Hsu, Scott, and Yamada, Masaaki. Study of Local Reconnection Physics in a Laboratory Plasma. United States: N. p., 2001. Web. doi:10.2172/786575.
Ji, Hantao, Carter, Troy, Hsu, Scott, & Yamada, Masaaki. Study of Local Reconnection Physics in a Laboratory Plasma. United States. https://doi.org/10.2172/786575
Ji, Hantao, Carter, Troy, Hsu, Scott, and Yamada, Masaaki. 2001. "Study of Local Reconnection Physics in a Laboratory Plasma". United States. https://doi.org/10.2172/786575. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/786575.
@article{osti_786575,
title = {Study of Local Reconnection Physics in a Laboratory Plasma},
author = {Ji, Hantao and Carter, Troy and Hsu, Scott and Yamada, Masaaki},
abstractNote = {A short review of physics results obtained in the Magnetic Reconnection Experiment (MRX) is given with an emphasis on the local features of magnetic reconnection in a controlled environment. Stable two-dimensional current sheets are formed and sustained by induction using two internal coils. The observed reconnection rates are found to be quantitatively consistent with a generalized Sweet-Parker model which incorporates compressibility, unbalanced upstream-downstream pressure, and the effective resistivity. The latter is significantly enhanced over its classical values in the low collisionality regime. Strong local ion heating is measured by an optical probe during the reconnection process, and at least half of the increased ion energy must be due to nonclassical processes, consistent with the resistivity enhancement. Characteristics of high-frequency electrostatic and electromagnetic fluctuations detected in the current sheet suggest presence of the lower-hybrid-drift-like waves with significant magnetic components. The detailed structures of the current sheet are measured and compared with Harris theory and two-fluid theory.},
doi = {10.2172/786575},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/786575}, journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Mon Jun 11 00:00:00 EDT 2001},
month = {Mon Jun 11 00:00:00 EDT 2001}
}