Helium Ion Temperatures During Magnetic Reconnection in PHASMA
POSTER
Abstract
Recently, the PHASMA experiment has begun studies of magnetic reconnection in helium
plasmas. Compared to argon, the smaller gyroradius of helium allows the ions to begin to
participate in the reconnection physics. However, the velocity distribution function of helium
ions is not easily measured with laser induced fluorescence. To obtain a line-averaged (along
the viewing chord) measurement of the helium ion temperature during reconnection, we have
mounted a gated Andor camera on a 1.3 m double pass spectrometer. The linewidth of helium
ion lines is then measured as a function of time during a strong guide field magnetic
reconnection study in PHASMA.
plasmas. Compared to argon, the smaller gyroradius of helium allows the ions to begin to
participate in the reconnection physics. However, the velocity distribution function of helium
ions is not easily measured with laser induced fluorescence. To obtain a line-averaged (along
the viewing chord) measurement of the helium ion temperature during reconnection, we have
mounted a gated Andor camera on a 1.3 m double pass spectrometer. The linewidth of helium
ion lines is then measured as a function of time during a strong guide field magnetic
reconnection study in PHASMA.
Presenters
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Daniel Wray Curtis
West Virginia University
Authors
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Daniel Wray Curtis
West Virginia University
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Earl E Scime
West Virginia University, WVU