title: Magnetic reconnection and plasma dynamics in two-beam laser-solid interactions.
abstract: We present measurements of a magnetic reconnection in a plasma created by two laser beams (1 ns pulse duration, 1 x 10(15) W cm(-2)) focused in close proximity on a planar solid target. Simultaneous optical probing and proton grid deflectometry reveal two high velocity, collimated outflowing jets and 0.7-1.3 MG magnetic fields at the focal spot edges. Thomson scattering measurements from the reconnection layer are consistent with high electron temperatures in this region.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics, Imperial College, London SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: P M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Nilson
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Willingale
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Kaluza
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kamperidis
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Minardi
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Fernandes
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Notley
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bandyopadhyay
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sherlock
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Kingham
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tatarakis
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Najmudin
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Rozmus
authors.forename: R G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Evans
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Haines
authors.forename: A E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Dangor
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Krushelnick