Observation of megagauss-field topology changes due to magnetic reconnection in laser-produced plasmas.
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).
Li
C K
CK
Plasma Science and Fusion Center, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA.
Séguin
F H
FH
Frenje
J A
JA
Rygg
J R
JR
Petrasso
R D
RD
Town
R P J
RP
Landen
O L
OL
Knauer
J P
JP
Smalyuk
V A
VA