Observations and interpretations of magnetic-field-line reconnection and tearing in a theta pinch

Measurements and calculations are presented of reconnection and tearing of magnetic fields in the Maryland Fast Theta Pinch operated with initial bias and driving fields in opposite directions. Open magnetic field lines reconnect and form magnetic islands on time scales of the order of an Alfven transit time across the plasma sheath. Data in support of these conclusions consist primarily of extensive magnetic probe data used to map out the field lines, supplemented by spectroscopic temperature measurements, CO2 laser interferometry, and spatially resolved light measurements. Implications of these results for plasma confinement are discussed