Experimental Statistics of Taylor State Reconnection

We present the results from the Swarthmore Spheromak Experiment (SSX). In SSX, Taylor State plasmas are formed on both ends of our device and evolve to have a large aspect ratio flux conserver where $\ell/R \approxeq 10$. The plasmas approach each other at velocity $\sim 40 km/s$, each with density $n_e \approx 5 \times 10^{15} cm^{-3} $, proton temperature $T_i \approx 20\ eV$, and magnetic field $B \approx 0.5\ T$. At the mid-plane where the collision occurs, a He-Ne Interferometer measures line-averaged density, a 2D $\Dot{B}$-Probe Array measures magnetic field at 16 locations, and Ion-Doppler Spectroscopy is responsible for the measurement of proton temperature. With data from approximately 1000 shots, we present typical findings for density, $\Vec{B}$-field, and temperature evolutions. Included in our investigation are key statistical diagnostic relationships, namely between magnetic field orientation during reconnection and peak proton temperature.