Observation of megagauss-field topology changes due to magnetic reconnection in laser-produced plasmas

Phys Rev Lett. 2007 Aug 3;99(5):055001. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.99.055001. Epub 2007 Aug 2.

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).