I have a set of equations which are defined below
\begin{figure*}[h] \label{eq1}
\begin{alignat}{2}
& E_{\mathrm{access}} && = E_{\mathrm{read}} + E_{\mathrm{write}}
= E_{\mathrm{R\_L1}} + E_{\mathrm{R\_lower}} + E_{\mathrm{W\_L1}} + E_{\mathrm{W\_lower}} \label{equation1} \\
....
\end{alignat}
\end{figure*}
The output produced is logically correct. However, I want to use smaller fonts and reduce the distance between symbols. For example, the distance between T+D, N*E....

How can I do that?
\small), see How to change default for spacing around binary relations? (possible duplicate?) where you can set/adjust the lengths\thickmuskip,\medmuskipand/or\thinmuskip. Each affects different spaces around different components. – Werner Dec 29 '14 at 16:08\timesinstuctions: They take up a lot of space and they are redundant. Separately, are you using\Bigl(and\Bigr)to create the large round parentheses? They look disproportionately large. Using\bigl[and\bigr]will take up less space. – Mico Dec 29 '14 at 16:09h(and you should never usehon its own anyway) so that should be\begin{figure}or\begin{figure}[htp]depending (examples should be a complete document) – David Carlisle Dec 29 '14 at 16:13\smalldoesn't work inaligntenvironment. – mahmood Dec 29 '14 at 18:08\smalloutside thealignatenvironment but still in yourfigurefloat. – Werner Dec 29 '14 at 18:14