Laboratory observations of electron energization and associated lower-hybrid and Trivelpiece–Gould wave turbulence during magnetic reconnection

Abstract

This work presents an experimental study of current-driven turbulence in a plasma undergoing magnetic reconnection in a low-β, strong-guide-field regime. Electrostatic fluctuations are observed by small, high-bandwidth, and impedance-matched Langmuir probes. The observed modes, identified by their characteristic frequency and wavelength, include lower-hybrid fluctuations and high-frequency Trivelpiece–Gould modes. The observed waves are believed to arise from electrons energized by the reconnection process via direct bump-on-tail instability (Trivelpiece–Gould) or gradients in the fast electron population (lower-hybrid).