Laboratory study of electron heating associated with lower hybrid drift waves during guide field reconnection

Lower hybrid drift waves have been observed near the electron diffusion region of the Magnetic Reconnection Experiment (MRX). In particular, the quasi-electrostatic lower hybrid drift wave (ES-LHDW) exists in the electron diffusion region when there is a significant guide field. Initial measurements in MRX show that there is a positive correlation between the electron temperature and density fluctuations associated with the ES-LHDW. This indicates that the ES-LHDW may affect electron and reconnection dynamics during reconnection with a guide field. To quantify the effects of the ES-LHDW on electron heating and anomalous terms in the Ohm’s law in MRX plasmas, we have developed an in-situ diagnostic that can simultaneously measure fluctuations in both the reconnection electric field and plasma density with high precision [1]. Moreover, we have also developed a local, linear model for LHDWs for plasmas with arbitrary collisionality. Results from the model show that collisional effects decrease the growth rate of both types of LHDWs but the effect is limited(<20 %) [2].  With measured amplitudes and quasi-linear calculations, we will estimate the wave-associated electron heating and anomalous terms.