Low Frequency Magnetic Fluctuations during Magnetic Reconnection in Laboratory Experiment

Abstract

Large amplitude magnetic fluctuation with ion cyclotron range frequency was observed inside the current sheet region during magnetic reconnection in the plasma merging experiment for the first time. The fluctuation exhibited parallel phase velocity close to the drift velocity in the current sheet and parallel wavelength comparable with the ion gyroradius, suggesting that the reconnection rate enhancement is influenced by the drift kink instability of the current sheet.