X-ray Observations of Radiatively Cooled Magnetic Reconnection Driven by Pulsed-Power on the Z Machine

Magnetic reconnection is a ubiquitous process throughout the Universe, which changes the topology of magnetic fields and releases magnetic energy impulsively in the form of heat, directed flows and fast particles. In extreme astrophysical environments, radiative cooling further modifies this partition of energy, leading to cooling instabilities which modify the reconnection process. The MARZ (Magnetically Ablated Reconnection on Z) collaboration carried out three shots on the Z Machine as part of the Z Fundamental Science Program to study radiatively cooled magnetic reconnection in the laboratory.