Observation and Interpretation of Magnetic-Field-Line Reconnection and Tearing in a Theta Pinch
- 22 January 1979
- journal article
- research article
- Published by American Physical Society (APS) in Physical Review Letters
- Vol. 42 (4) , 228-231
- https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevlett.42.228
Abstract
Measurements and calculations are presented of reconnection and tearing of magnetic fields in a theta pinch operated with initial bias and driving fields in opposite directions. Open magnetic field lines reconnect and form magnetic islands on time scales of the order of an Alfvén transit time across the plasma sheath. Implications of these results for plasma confinement are discussed.Keywords
This publication has 6 references indexed in Scilit:
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- Finite-Resistivity Instabilities of a Sheet PinchPhysics of Fluids, 1963