Quantification of Magnetic Reconnection within PHASMA using Two Dimensional Nonlocal Magnetic Field Measurements, Fast Photodiodes, and Machine Learning*

The PHASMA (PHAse Space MApping) facility at WVU is designed to investigate magnetic reconnection through the merger of two kink free magnetic flux ropes created by pulsed plasma guns. Two-dimensional nonlocal magnetic field measurements are used to quantify reconnection with the aim of working towards training a real-time algorithm for a diagnostic that predicts the time and location of magnetic reconnection within PHASMA. This study investigates the functionality of a machine learning algorithm trained on measurements within PHASMA that quantify magnetic reconnection, such as line-integrated fast photodiode measurements to classify reconnection events. This analysis will enable new studies of reconnection in highly turbulent and irreproducible systems by providing a means of localizing events of interest to better synchronize triggered measurements, such as Thomson scattering measurements of the electron velocity distribution functions.