Measurement of magnetic reconnection driven by pulse power using ultra high speed laser schlieren technology

Magnetic reconnection in Z-pinch plasma have been measured using ultra high speed laser schlieren technology. Through measurement of plasma distribution of two wires on the XP-1, it is demonstrated that study of magnetic reconnection in Z-pinch plasma is feasible through ultra high speed optic electronic framing camera and schlieren technology. The results of two tungsten wire experiment indicate that the wires start expanding 10 ns after current loading at approximately 8 km/s, and in inner and outer sides of the wires, there are highly possible electrothermal instability vertical to magnetic field. The results of two tungsten wire experiment indicate that the early instability wavelength is 0.4 mm and becomes 1.5 mm at later stage, there is still plenty of plasma in the initial position after current peak. These phenomena reveal a principal characteristic of instability: as it develops, the long wave mode will be dominant and the short wave mode will be restrained.