Relativistic magnetic reconnection driven by intense lasers in preformed plasma*

Experiments were performed with the OMEGA EP laser system focusing the two short pulse beams to high intensities on foil targets. Relativistic electrons drive fast reconnection self-generated magnetic fields. To investigate the effects of a preformed plasma on this relativistic magnetic reconnection, a long pulse UV beam was used to ablate the front surface of layered targets. The density and reconnection dynamics in the preformed copper or CH plasma were diagnosed with a $4 \omega$ optical probe. A spherically bent crystal imaged characteristic copper $K_\alpha$ emission induced by fast electrons accelerated into the target in the reconnection diffusion region.