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PRODID:UW-Madison-Physics-Events
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UID:UW-Physics-Event-2612
DTSTART:20120223T180000Z
DURATION:PT1H0M0S
DTSTAMP:20260416T150756Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20120217T205024Z
LOCATION:4274 Chamberlin
SUMMARY:Studying Fast Magnetic Reconnection with Laboratory Plasmas\, 
 Plasma Physics (Physics/ECE/NE 922) Seminar\, William Fox\, University
  of New Hampshire
DESCRIPTION:Magnetic reconnection is a ubiquitous plasma process which
  controls the dynamics of magnetic fields a number of plasma systems\,
  allowing the release of magnetic energy which powers solar flares and
  magnetospheric substorms\, and also which allows instabilities in mag
 netized fusion devices to quickly transport plasma out of the core of 
 the device.  In this talk I will discuss two sets of experiments study
 ing magnetic reconnection in laboratory plasmas.  First\, I will discu
 ss the Versatile Toroidal Facility (VTF) experiment at MIT\, a basic l
 aboratory experiment which studies magnetic reconnection in the regime
  of a strong toroidal "guide" field\, and specifically my work studyin
 g current-driven instabilities driven by reconnection events.  In the 
 second set of experiments\, I will discuss my recent work to understan
 d magnetic reconnection experiments conducted on inertial-fusion-class
  laser-facilities.  This is a novel regime for magnetic reconnection s
 tudy\, characterized by extremely high magnetic fields\, high plasma b
 eta and strong\, super-Alfvenic plasma inflow.  Work to-date with part
 icle-in-cell simulations has identified two key ingredients for explai
 ning the fast observed rates of reconnection: two-fluid reconnection m
 ediated by collisionless effects (the Hall current and electron pressu
 re tensor)\, and strong flux-pileup of the inflowing magnetic field.  
 I will close with a discussion of our new proposals for upcoming laser
 -driven reconnection experiments using this new platform.
URL:https://www.physics.wisc.edu/events/?id=2612
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