Plasma and Fusion Research

Volume 12, 1202033 (2017)

Rapid Communications

Separated Double-Current Layers in a High-Guide-Field Reconnection Experiment
Kyohei KONDO, Michiaki INOMOTO, Xuehan GUO, Tomohiko USHIKI, Takumichi SUGAWARA, Takumi MIHARA, Shuji KAMIO1), Hiroshi TANABE and Yasushi ONO
Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Kashiwa 277-8561, Japan
1)
National Institute for Fusion Science, Toki 509-5292, Japan
(Received 1 May 2017 / Accepted 22 June 2017 / Published 7 August 2017)

Abstract

Magnetic reconnection in the presence of a high-guide-field is utilized to heat the plasma in the merging start-up of a spherical tokamak configuration. The reconnection current layer between two spherical tokamaks was gradually compressed, and a quasi-steady current-sheet thickness was obtained. During the compression phase, the current layer split transiently into two separated layers, which provided a flattened magnetic-field-region near the X-point. This modification may affect the electron-energization mechanism in the merging start-up of a spherical tokamak in a high-guide-field.

Keywords

magnetic reconnection, spherical tokamak, plasma merging, current layer

DOI: 10.1585/pfr.12.1202033

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