Evolution of two flux ropes during magnetic reconnection in PHASMA

Magnetic reconnection converts magnetic energy into plasma kinetic and thermal energy through change of magnetic topology. PHASMA (PHAse Space MApping) is a linear plasma facility capable of investigating magnetic reconnection phenomena in the laboratory through the merger of parallel flux ropes created with pulsed plasma guns. As the system of two flux ropes evolves, push and pull phases of magnetic reconnection are observed. An array of nine triple Langmuir probes (TLP) is used to measure the temporal evolution of flux ropes. The TLP array enables two dimensional (2D) measurement of plasma density and electron temperature in the reconnection region. The focus of the work here is to understand the nature of measured electric field topology and fluctuations during reconnection events. A linear magnetic probe array is used to map the 2D magnetic topology of reconnecting field lines. Based on the present observations, the dissipation mechanisms and reconnection rate will be discussed.