Published March 2016 | Version v1
Journal article Metadata-only

Magnetic reconnection driven by Gekko XII lasers with a Helmholtz capacitor-coil target

Creators

  • 1. University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049 (China)
  • 2. Key Laboratory of Optical Astronomy, National Astronomical Observatories, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100012 (China)
  • 3. IFSA Collaborative Innovation Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240 (China)
  • 4. Department of Astronomy, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875 (China)
  • 5. Institute of Laser Engineering, Osaka University, Osaka 565-0871 (Japan)
  • 6. Beijing National Laboratory of Condensed Matter Physics, Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190 (China)

Description

We demonstrate a novel plasma device for magnetic reconnection, driven by Gekko XII lasers irradiating a double-turn Helmholtz capacitor-coil target. Optical probing revealed an accumulated plasma plume near the magnetic reconnection outflow. The background electron density and magnetic field were measured to be approximately 1018 cm−3 and 60 T by using Nomarski interferometry and the Faraday effect, respectively. In contrast with experiments on magnetic reconnection constructed by the Biermann battery effect, which produced high beta values, our beta value was much lower than one, which greatly extends the parameter regime of laser-driven magnetic reconnection and reveals its potential in astrophysical plasma applications.

Additional details

Identifiers

DOI
10.1063/1.4944928;

Publishing Information

Journal Title
Physics of Plasmas
Journal Volume
23
Journal Issue
3
Journal Page Range
p. 032125-032125.5
ISSN
1070-664X
CODEN
PHPAEN

INIS

Country of Publication
United States
Country of Input or Organization
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
INIS RN
48043715
Subject category
S70: PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY; S71: CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSICS;
Descriptors DEI
CAPACITORS; ELECTRON DENSITY; ELECTRONS; FARADAY EFFECT; HELMHOLTZ INSTABILITY; HIGH-BETA PLASMA; INTERFEROMETRY; LASERS; MAGNETIC FIELDS; MAGNETIC RECONNECTION; PLUMES
Descriptors DEC
ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT; ELEMENTARY PARTICLES; EQUIPMENT; FERMIONS; INSTABILITY; LEPTONS; PLASMA; PLASMA INSTABILITY; PLASMA MACROINSTABILITIES

Optional Information

Notes
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