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Phys. Rev. Lett. 88, 015001 (2001) [4 pages]

Measurement of Lower-Hybrid Drift Turbulence in a Reconnecting Current Sheet

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T. A. Carter *, H. Ji, F. Trintchouk, M. Yamada, and R. M. Kulsrud
Princeton University, Plasma Physics Laboratory, P.O. Box 451, Princeton, New Jersey 08543

Received 13 June 2001; published 19 December 2001

We present a detailed study of fluctuations in a laboratory current sheet undergoing magnetic reconnection. The measurements reveal the presence of lower-hybrid-frequency-range fluctuations on the edge of current sheets produced in the magnetic reconnection experiment (MRX). The measured fluctuation characteristics are consistent with theoretical predictions for the lower-hybrid drift instability (LHDI). Our observations suggest that the LHDI turbulence alone cannot explain the observed fast reconnection rate in MRX.


©2002 The American Physical Society

URL: http://link.aps.org/abstract/PRL/v88/e015001
DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.88.015001
PACS: 52.35.Vd, 52.35.Qz, 52.35.Ra, 52.72.+v

* Present address: Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1547.Electronic address: tcarter@physics.ucla.edu

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