[Table of Contents]

Plasma and Fusion Research

Volume 6, 1201127 (2011)

Rapid Communications


Low Frequency Magnetic Fluctuations during Magnetic Reconnection in Laboratory Experiment
Akihiro KUWAHATA, Hiroshi TANABE1), Shingo ITO1), Michiaki INOMOTO1) and Yasushi ONO1)
Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan
1)
Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Chiba 277-8561, Japan
(Received 19 May 2011 / Accepted 10 June 2011 / Published 20 August 2011)

Abstract

Large amplitude magnetic fluctuation with ion cyclotron range frequency was observed inside the current sheet region during magnetic reconnection in the plasma merging experiment for the first time. The fluctuation exhibited parallel phase velocity close to the drift velocity in the current sheet and parallel wavelength comparable with the ion gyroradius, suggesting that the reconnection rate enhancement is influenced by the drift kink instability of the current sheet.


Keywords

magnetic reconnection, plasma merging, anomalous resistivity, drift kink instability

DOI: 10.1585/pfr.6.1201127


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This paper may be cited as follows:

Akihiro KUWAHATA, Hiroshi TANABE, Shingo ITO, Michiaki INOMOTO and Yasushi ONO, Plasma Fusion Res. 6, 1201127 (2011).