Separated Double-Current Layers in a High-Guide-Field Reconnection Experiment

Abstract

Magnetic reconnection in the presence of a high-guide-field is utilized to heat the plasma in the merging start-up of a spherical tokamak configuration. The reconnection current layer between two spherical tokamaks was gradually compressed, and a quasi-steady current-sheet thickness was obtained. During the compression phase, the current layer split transiently into two separated layers, which provided a flattened magnetic-field-region near the X-point. This modification may affect the electron-energization mechanism in the merging start-up of a spherical tokamak in a high-guide-field.