Title :
Visualizing Three-Dimensional Reconnection in a Colliding Laser Plasma Experiment
Author :
Gekelman, Walter ; Vincena, Stephen ; Collette, Andrew
Author_Institution :
Dept. of Phys. & Astron., Univ. of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA
Abstract :
Most processes in nature where magnetic field line reconnection occurs are thought to be 3-D and time dependent. These include solar flares and sites in the Earth´s and in Jupiter´s magnetotails, as well as astronomical objects such as pulsars and colliding galaxies. We present experimental evidence for a fully 3-D reconnection, which occurs when two dense plasmas collide in a background-magnetized plasma.
Keywords :
magnetic reconnection; plasma Alfven waves; plasma instability; plasma jets; plasma magnetohydrodynamics; plasma probes; plasma production by laser; 3D reconnection visualization; background magnetized plasma; colliding laser plasma experiment; magnetic field line reconnection; plasma collision; Helium; Laser ablation; Magnetic fields; Magnetosphere; Morphology; Plasma density; Plasma waves; Probes; Surface emitting lasers; Visualization; Laser ablation; magnetic fields; plasma waves; plasmas; scientific visualization;
Journal_Title :
Plasma Science, IEEE Transactions on
DOI :
10.1109/TPS.2008.922928
