Fast camera images of flux ropes during plasma relaxation

Author

Hemsing, E.W. ; Furno, I. ; Intrator, T.P.

Author_Institution

Plasma Phys. Group, Los Alamos Nat. Lab., NM, USA

Volume

33

Issue

2

fYear

2005

fDate

4/1/2005 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

448

Lastpage

449

Abstract

Images of visible light emission from flux ropes during plasma relaxation are presented. Multiple images are used to gain insight into the dynamics of driven/dissipative plasma relaxation processes in finite-β plasmas. A fast-gated (40-200 ns) intensified charge coupled device (ICCD) camera generates time-resolved images of 1-3 flux ropes in the reconnection scaling experiment (RSX) device. During relaxation, flux ropes are observed to evolve toward states characterized by the presence of single and multiple helical mode structures.

Keywords

plasma diagnostics; plasma instability; plasma magnetohydrodynamics; 40 to 200 ns; ICCD camera; RSX device; dissipative plasma relaxation; driven plasma relaxation; fast camera images; fast-gated intensified charge coupled device camera; flux ropes; helical mode structures; reconnection scaling experiment device; time-resolved images; visible light emission; Anodes; Cameras; Charge-coupled image sensors; Hydrogen; Magnetic fields; Plasma devices; Plasma measurements; Plasma sources; Plasma temperature; Steel; Cylindrical; dissipation; flux ropes; helicity; instability; mode structures; relaxation;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Plasma Science, IEEE Transactions on

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0093-3813

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/TPS.2005.845143

Filename

1420520