Magnetic reconnection and plasma dynamics in two-beam laser-solid interactions.
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.
Nilson
P M
PM
Department of Physics, Imperial College, London SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom.
Willingale
L
L
Kaluza
M C
MC
Kamperidis
C
C
Minardi
S
S
Wei
M S
MS
Fernandes
P
P
Notley
M
M
Bandyopadhyay
S
S
Sherlock
M
M
Kingham
R J
RJ
Tatarakis
M
M
Najmudin
Z
Z
Rozmus
W
W
Evans
R G
RG
Haines
M G
MG
Dangor
A E
AE
Krushelnick
K
K