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.