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We present the overview of a new experimental apparatus that has been developed to create a single flux rope for studying magnetized plasma jet dynamics, with a focus on the roles of Magnetohydrodynamic instabilities in magnetic reconnection and ion heating. The plasma is generated using coplanar electrodes with a single gas nozzle to create a single flux rope, high-voltage capacitor banks, gas puff valves, and a background magnetic field coil. This setup enables controlled exploration of various plasma stability regimes by adjusting external parameters. A comprehensive suite of diagnostic tools—including a He–Ne interferometer, ion Doppler spectroscopy, and a magnetic field probe array—has been implemented to measure key plasma parameters such as density, temperature, and magnetic field. Initial findings indicate that the apparatus can create a single flux rope and sustain it as a stable jet, a kink-unstable jet, and pinched plasma. In particular, kink instability results in significant ion heating, suggesting that magnetic reconnection may be driven by kink instability. These findings provide valuable insights into plasma dynamics relevant to space physics and magnetized inertial fusion, where fluid instabilities and magnetic reconnection are frequently observed. 

Abstract. In this paper we present an overview of measurements conducted during the WADIS-2 rocket campaign. We investigate the effect of small-scale processes like gravity waves and turbulence on the distribution of atomic oxygen and other species in the mesosphere–lower thermosphere (MLT) region. Our analysis suggests that density fluctuations of atomic oxygen are coupled to fluctuations of other constituents, i.e., plasma and neutrals. Our measurements show that all measured quantities, including winds, densities, and temperatures, reveal signatures of both waves and turbulence. We show observations of gravity wave saturation and breakdown together with simultaneous measurements of generated turbulence. Atomic oxygen inside turbulence layers shows two different spectral behaviors, which might imply a change in its diffusion properties.