title: Observation of megagauss-field topology changes due to magnetic reconnection in laser-produced plasmas.
abstract: The spatial structure and temporal evolution of megagauss magnetic fields generated by interactions of up to 4 laser beams with matter were studied with an innovative, time-gated proton radiography method that produces images of unprecedented clarity because it uses an isotropic, truly monoenergetic back-lighter (14.7-MeV protons from D3He nuclear fusion reactions). Quantitative field maps reveal precisely and directly, for the first time, changes in the magnetic topology due to reconnection in a high-energy-density plasma (n(e) approximately 10(20)-10(22) cm(-3), T(e) approximately 1 keV).
authors.affiliation: Plasma Science and Fusion Center, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA.
authors.forename: C K
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: F H
authors.initials: FH
authors.lastname: Séguin
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Frenje
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Rygg
authors.forename: R D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Petrasso
authors.forename: R P J
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Town
authors.forename: O L
authors.initials: OL
authors.lastname: Landen
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Knauer
authors.forename: V A
authors.initials: VA
authors.lastname: Smalyuk