Measurements of impulsive reconnection driven by nonlinear Hall dynamics

The magnetic fields associated with reconnection in the edge of the reversed field pinch configuration have been measured in the Madison Symmetric Torus. The measured magnetic field structure is compared with theoretical predictions computed in both toroidal and cylindrical geometries. The summation of multiple modes has been accomplished to reveal a complex but still coherent edge structure. Key terms of relevant Ohm’s law are accessible from magnetic field measurement and reveal the ordering [(1/ne)J×B⪢E>ηJ], which implies that two fluid effects are important in the physics governing this reconnection. Further, it is seen that the nonlinear three-wave coupling of the Hall term acts as a driving mechanism for this linearly stable mode.