First direct experimental evidence of the merging of two colliding field reversed configurations

作者：Hui Liao, Chaoqi Hu, Yilin Li, Xuan Sun · 发表于：Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion · 年份：2022 · DOI：10.1088/1361-6587/ac91a2 · 被引用次数：6 · 研究领域：Magnetic confinement fusion research、Ionosphere and magnetosphere dynamics、Solar and Space Plasma Dynamics

Abstract The collisional merging of two Alfvénic-speed translated field reversed configurations (FRCs) via magnetic reconnection is presented with a two-dimensional magnetic probe array in the Keda Mirror with AXisymmetricity-FRC experiment. The collision is accompanied by axial compression and radial expansion, resulting in the increase in the FRC’s current density and poloidal flux. A reversed-current sheet is found to form during collision, indicating the occurrence of magnetic reconnection. After merging, the ion and electron temperature are increased. By comparing three different scenarios, i.e. the single-translated FRC, the FRC colliding solely with a stream plasma, and the collisional-merging FRC, we identify that axial compression and magnetic reconnection both contribute the electron heating.