1
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Datta R, Chandler K, Myers CE, Chittenden JP, Crilly AJ, Aragon C, Ampleford DJ, Banasek JT, Edens A, Fox WR, Hansen SB, Harding EC, Jennings CA, Ji H, Kuranz CC, Lebedev SV, Looker Q, Patel SG, Porwitzky A, Shipley GA, Uzdensky DA, Yager-Elorriaga DA, Hare JD. Plasmoid Formation and Strong Radiative Cooling in a Driven Magnetic Reconnection Experiment. PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS 2024; 132:155102. [PMID: 38683000 DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.132.155102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2024] [Accepted: 03/05/2024] [Indexed: 05/01/2024]
Abstract
We present the first experimental study of plasmoid formation in a magnetic reconnection layer undergoing rapid radiative cooling, a regime relevant to extreme astrophysical plasmas. Two exploding aluminum wire arrays, driven by the Z machine, generate a reconnection layer (S_{L}≈120) in which the cooling rate far exceeds the hydrodynamic transit rate (τ_{hydro}/τ_{cool}>100). The reconnection layer generates a transient burst of >1 keV x-ray emission, consistent with the formation and subsequent rapid cooling of the layer. Time-gated x-ray images show fast-moving (up to 50 km s^{-1}) hotspots in the layer, consistent with the presence of plasmoids in 3D resistive magnetohydrodynamic simulations. X-ray spectroscopy shows that these hotspots generate the majority of Al K-shell emission (around 1.6 keV) prior to the onset of cooling, and exhibit temperatures (170 eV) much greater than that of the plasma inflows and the rest of the reconnection layer, thus providing insight into the generation of high-energy radiation in radiatively cooled reconnection events.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Datta
- Plasma Science and Fusion Center, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Massachusetts 02139, Cambridge, USA
| | - K Chandler
- Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87123-1106, USA
| | - C E Myers
- Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87123-1106, USA
| | - J P Chittenden
- Blackett Laboratory, Imperial College London, London SW7 2BW, United Kingdom
| | - A J Crilly
- Blackett Laboratory, Imperial College London, London SW7 2BW, United Kingdom
| | - C Aragon
- Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87123-1106, USA
| | - D J Ampleford
- Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87123-1106, USA
| | - J T Banasek
- Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87123-1106, USA
| | - A Edens
- Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87123-1106, USA
| | - W R Fox
- Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory, Princeton, New Jersey 08543, USA
| | - S B Hansen
- Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87123-1106, USA
| | - E C Harding
- Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87123-1106, USA
| | - C A Jennings
- Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87123-1106, USA
| | - H Ji
- Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory, Princeton, New Jersey 08543, USA
| | - C C Kuranz
- Department of Nuclear Engineering and Radiological Sciences, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA
| | - S V Lebedev
- Blackett Laboratory, Imperial College London, London SW7 2BW, United Kingdom
| | - Q Looker
- Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87123-1106, USA
| | - S G Patel
- Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87123-1106, USA
| | - A Porwitzky
- Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87123-1106, USA
| | - G A Shipley
- Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87123-1106, USA
| | - D A Uzdensky
- Center for Integrated Plasma Studies, Physics Department, UCB-390, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado 80309, USA
| | | | - J D Hare
- Plasma Science and Fusion Center, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Massachusetts 02139, Cambridge, USA
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2
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Sakai K, Moritaka T, Morita T, Tomita K, Minami T, Nishimoto T, Egashira S, Ota M, Sakawa Y, Ozaki N, Kodama R, Kojima T, Takezaki T, Yamazaki R, Tanaka SJ, Aihara K, Koenig M, Albertazzi B, Mabey P, Woolsey N, Matsukiyo S, Takabe H, Hoshino M, Kuramitsu Y. Direct observations of pure electron outflow in magnetic reconnection. Sci Rep 2022; 12:10921. [PMID: 35773286 PMCID: PMC9247195 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-14582-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2022] [Accepted: 06/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Magnetic reconnection is a universal process in space, astrophysical, and laboratory plasmas. It alters magnetic field topology and results in energy release to the plasma. Here we report the experimental results of a pure electron outflow in magnetic reconnection, which is not accompanied with ion flows. By controlling an applied magnetic field in a laser produced plasma, we have constructed an experiment that magnetizes the electrons but not the ions. This allows us to isolate the electron dynamics from the ions. Collective Thomson scattering measurements reveal the electron Alfvénic outflow without ion outflow. The resultant plasmoid and whistler waves are observed with the magnetic induction probe measurements. We observe the unique features of electron-scale magnetic reconnection simultaneously in laser produced plasmas, including global structures, local plasma parameters, magnetic field, and waves.
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Affiliation(s)
- K Sakai
- Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka University, 2-1 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan. .,Institute of Laser Engineering, Osaka University, 2-6 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan.
| | - T Moritaka
- Department of Helical Plasma Research, National Institute for Fusion Science, Toki, 509-5292, Japan
| | - T Morita
- Faculty of Engineering Sciences, Kyushu University, 6-1 Kasuga-Koen, Kasuga, Fukuoka, 816-8580, Japan
| | - K Tomita
- Division of Quantum Science and Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, Hokkaido University, Kita 13, Nishi 8, Kita-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido, 060-8628, Japan
| | - T Minami
- Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka University, 2-1 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan.,Institute of Laser Engineering, Osaka University, 2-6 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan
| | - T Nishimoto
- Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka University, 2-1 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan.,Institute of Laser Engineering, Osaka University, 2-6 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan
| | - S Egashira
- Institute of Laser Engineering, Osaka University, 2-6 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan
| | - M Ota
- Institute of Laser Engineering, Osaka University, 2-6 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan
| | - Y Sakawa
- Institute of Laser Engineering, Osaka University, 2-6 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan
| | - N Ozaki
- Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka University, 2-1 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan.,Institute of Laser Engineering, Osaka University, 2-6 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan
| | - R Kodama
- Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka University, 2-1 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan.,Institute of Laser Engineering, Osaka University, 2-6 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan
| | - T Kojima
- Faculty of Engineering Sciences, Kyushu University, 6-1 Kasuga-Koen, Kasuga, Fukuoka, 816-8580, Japan
| | - T Takezaki
- Faculty of Engineering, University of Toyama, 3190 Gofuku, Toyama, Toyama, 930-8555, Japan
| | - R Yamazaki
- Institute of Laser Engineering, Osaka University, 2-6 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan.,Department of Physical Sciences, Aoyama Gakuin University, 5-10-1 Fuchinobe, Sagamihara, Kanagawa, 252-5258, Japan
| | - S J Tanaka
- Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka University, 2-1 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan.,Department of Physical Sciences, Aoyama Gakuin University, 5-10-1 Fuchinobe, Sagamihara, Kanagawa, 252-5258, Japan
| | - K Aihara
- Department of Physical Sciences, Aoyama Gakuin University, 5-10-1 Fuchinobe, Sagamihara, Kanagawa, 252-5258, Japan
| | - M Koenig
- LULI-CNRS, CEA, Sorbonne Universités, École Polytechnique, Institut Polytechnique de Paris, F-91120, Palaiseau cedex, France
| | - B Albertazzi
- LULI-CNRS, CEA, Sorbonne Universités, École Polytechnique, Institut Polytechnique de Paris, F-91120, Palaiseau cedex, France
| | - P Mabey
- LULI-CNRS, CEA, Sorbonne Universités, École Polytechnique, Institut Polytechnique de Paris, F-91120, Palaiseau cedex, France
| | - N Woolsey
- Department of Physics, York Plasma Institute, University of York, York, YO10 5DD, UK
| | - S Matsukiyo
- Faculty of Engineering Sciences, Kyushu University, 6-1 Kasuga-Koen, Kasuga, Fukuoka, 816-8580, Japan
| | - H Takabe
- Leung Center for Cosmology and Particle Astrophysics, National Taiwan University, Taipei, 10617, Taiwan
| | - M Hoshino
- Department of Earth and Planetary Science, University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo, Tokyo, 113-0033, Japan
| | - Y Kuramitsu
- Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka University, 2-1 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan.,Institute of Laser Engineering, Osaka University, 2-6 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan
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3
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Johnson CL, Malko S, Fox W, Schaeffer DB, Fiksel G, Adrian PJ, Sutcliffe GD, Birkel A. Proton deflectometry with in situ x-ray reference for absolute measurement of electromagnetic fields in high-energy-density plasmas. THE REVIEW OF SCIENTIFIC INSTRUMENTS 2022; 93:023502. [PMID: 35232152 DOI: 10.1063/5.0064263] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2021] [Accepted: 01/03/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
We report a technique of proton deflectometry that uses a grid and an in situ reference x-ray grid image for precise measurements of magnetic fields in high-energy-density plasmas. A D3He fusion implosion provides a bright point source of both protons and x-rays, which is split into beamlets by a grid. The protons undergo deflections as they propagate through the plasma region of interest, whereas the x-rays travel along straight lines. The x-ray image, therefore, provides a zero-deflection reference image. The line-integrated magnetic fields are inferred from the shifts of beamlets between the deflected (proton) and reference (x-ray) images. We developed a system for analysis of these data, including automatic algorithms to find beamlet locations and to calculate their deflections from the reference image. The technique is verified in an experiment performed at OMEGA to measure a nonuniform magnetic field in vacuum and then applied to observe the interaction of an expanding plasma plume with the magnetic field.
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Affiliation(s)
- C L Johnson
- Rowan University, Glassboro, New Jersey 08028, USA
| | - S Malko
- Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory, Princeton, New Jersey 08543, USA
| | - W Fox
- Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory, Princeton, New Jersey 08543, USA
| | - D B Schaeffer
- Department of Astrophysical Sciences, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey 08544, USA
| | - G Fiksel
- Center for Ultrafast Optical Science, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA
| | - P J Adrian
- Plasma Science and Fusion Center, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA
| | - G D Sutcliffe
- Plasma Science and Fusion Center, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA
| | - A Birkel
- Plasma Science and Fusion Center, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA
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4
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Enhanced X-ray emission arising from laser-plasma confinement by a strong transverse magnetic field. Sci Rep 2021; 11:8180. [PMID: 33854146 PMCID: PMC8047033 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-87651-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2020] [Accepted: 03/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
We analyze, using experiments and 3D MHD numerical simulations, the dynamic and radiative properties of a plasma ablated by a laser (1 ns, 10\documentclass[12pt]{minimal}
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\begin{document}$$^{12}$$\end{document}12–10\documentclass[12pt]{minimal}
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\begin{document}$$^2$$\end{document}2) from a solid target as it expands into a homogeneous, strong magnetic field (up to 30 T) that is transverse to its main expansion axis. We find that as early as 2 ns after the start of the expansion, the plasma becomes constrained by the magnetic field. As the magnetic field strength is increased, more plasma is confined close to the target and is heated by magnetic compression. We also observe that after \documentclass[12pt]{minimal}
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\begin{document}$$\sim 8$$\end{document}∼8 ns, the plasma is being overall shaped in a slab, with the plasma being compressed perpendicularly to the magnetic field, and being extended along the magnetic field direction. This dense slab rapidly expands into vacuum; however, it contains only \documentclass[12pt]{minimal}
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\begin{document}$$\sim 2\%$$\end{document}∼2% of the total plasma. As a result of the higher density and increased heating of the plasma confined against the laser-irradiated solid target, there is a net enhancement of the total X-ray emissivity induced by the magnetization.
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5
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Mao H, Weichman K, Gong Z, Ditmire T, Quevedo H, Arefiev A. Emission of electromagnetic waves as a stopping mechanism for nonlinear collisionless ionization waves in a high-β regime. Phys Rev E 2021; 103:023209. [PMID: 33735976 DOI: 10.1103/physreve.103.023209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2020] [Accepted: 01/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
A high energy density plasma embedded in a neutral gas is able to launch an outward-propagating nonlinear electrostatic ionization wave that traps energetic electrons. The trapping maintains a strong sheath electric field, enabling rapid and long-lasting wave propagation aided by field ionization. Using 1D3V kinetic simulations, we examine the propagation of the ionization wave in the presence of a transverse MG-level magnetic field with the objective to identify qualitative changes in a regime where the initial thermal pressure of the plasma exceeds the pressure of the magnetic field (β>1). Our key finding is that the magnetic field stops the propagation by causing the energetic electrons sustaining the wave to lose their energy by emitting an electromagnetic wave. The emission is accompanied by the magnetic field expulsion from the plasma and an increased electron loss from the trapping wave structure. The described effect provides a mechanism mitigating rapid plasma expansion for those applications that involve an embedded plasma, such as high-flux neutron production from laser-irradiated deuterium gas jets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haotian Mao
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of California at San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, USA
| | - Kathleen Weichman
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of California at San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, USA and University of Rochester, Laboratory for Laser Energetics, Rochester, New York 14623, USA
| | - Zheng Gong
- Center for High Energy Density Science, University of Texas at Austin, Texas 78712, USA and School of Physics, Peking University, 100871, People's Republic of China
| | - Todd Ditmire
- Center for High Energy Density Science, University of Texas at Austin, Texas 78712, USA
| | - Hernan Quevedo
- Center for High Energy Density Science, University of Texas at Austin, Texas 78712, USA
| | - Alexey Arefiev
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of California at San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, USA and Center for Energy Research, University of California at San Diego, La Jolla, California 92037, USA
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6
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Generation of focusing ion beams by magnetized electron sheath acceleration. Sci Rep 2020; 10:18966. [PMID: 33144599 PMCID: PMC7641233 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-75915-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2020] [Accepted: 10/19/2020] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
We present the first 3D fully kinetic simulations of laser driven sheath-based ion acceleration with a kilotesla-level applied magnetic field. The application of a strong magnetic field significantly and beneficially alters sheath based ion acceleration and creates two distinct stages in the acceleration process associated with the time-evolving magnetization of the hot electron sheath. The first stage delivers dramatically enhanced acceleration, and the second reverses the typical outward-directed topology of the sheath electric field into a focusing configuration. The net result is a focusing, magnetic field-directed ion source of multiple species with strongly enhanced energy and number. The predicted improvements in ion source characteristics are desirable for applications and suggest a route to experimentally confirm magnetization-related effects in the high energy density regime. We additionally perform a comparison between 2D and 3D simulation geometry, on which basis we predict the feasibility of observing magnetic field effects under experimentally relevant conditions.
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7
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Zylstra AB, Craxton RS, Rygg JR, Li CK, Carlson L, Manuel MJE, Alfonso EL, Mauldin M, Gonzalez L, Youngblood K, Garcia EM, Browning LT, Le Pape S, Lemos NC, Lahmann B, Gatu Johnson M, Sio H, Kabadi N. Saturn-ring proton backlighters for the National Ignition Facility. THE REVIEW OF SCIENTIFIC INSTRUMENTS 2020; 91:093505. [PMID: 33003822 DOI: 10.1063/5.0021027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2020] [Accepted: 08/28/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Proton radiography is a well-established technique for measuring electromagnetic fields in high-energy-density plasmas. Fusion reactions producing monoenergetic particles, such as D3He, are commonly used as a source, produced by a capsule implosion. Using smaller capsules for radiography applications is advantageous as the source size decreases, but on the National Ignition Facility (NIF), this can introduce complications from increasing blow-by light, since the phase plate focal spot size is much larger than the capsules. We report a demonstration of backlighter targets where a "Saturn" ring is placed around the capsule to block this light. The nuclear performance of the backlighters is unperturbed by the addition of a ring. We also test a ring with an equatorial cutout, which severely affects the proton emission and is not viable for radiography applications. These results demonstrate the general viability of Saturn ring backlighter targets for use on the NIF.
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Affiliation(s)
- A B Zylstra
- Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California 94550, USA
| | - R S Craxton
- Laboratory for Laser Energetics, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York 14623, USA
| | - J R Rygg
- Laboratory for Laser Energetics, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York 14623, USA
| | - C-K Li
- Plasma Science and Fusion Center, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA
| | - L Carlson
- General Atomics, San Diego, California 92121, USA
| | - M J-E Manuel
- General Atomics, San Diego, California 92121, USA
| | - E L Alfonso
- General Atomics, San Diego, California 92121, USA
| | - M Mauldin
- General Atomics, San Diego, California 92121, USA
| | - L Gonzalez
- General Atomics, San Diego, California 92121, USA
| | - K Youngblood
- Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California 94550, USA
| | - E M Garcia
- Laboratory for Laser Energetics, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York 14623, USA
| | - L T Browning
- Laboratory for Laser Energetics, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York 14623, USA
| | - S Le Pape
- Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California 94550, USA
| | - N Candeias Lemos
- Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California 94550, USA
| | - B Lahmann
- Plasma Science and Fusion Center, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA
| | - M Gatu Johnson
- Plasma Science and Fusion Center, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA
| | - H Sio
- Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California 94550, USA
| | - N Kabadi
- Plasma Science and Fusion Center, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA
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8
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Sinha U, Kumar N. Pair-beam propagation in a magnetized plasma for modeling the polarized radiation emission from gamma-ray bursts in laboratory astrophysics experiments. Phys Rev E 2020; 101:063204. [PMID: 32688524 DOI: 10.1103/physreve.101.063204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2019] [Accepted: 04/16/2020] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
The propagation of a relativistic electron-positron beam in a magnetized electron-ion plasma is studied, focusing on the polarization of the radiation generated in this case. Special emphasis is laid on investigating the polarization of the generated radiation for a range of beam-plasma parameters, transverse and longitudinal beam sizes, and the external magnetic fields. Our results not only help in understanding the high degrees of circular polarization observed in gamma-ray bursts, but they also help in distinguishing the different modes associated with the filamentation dynamics of the pair beam in laboratory astrophysics experiments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ujjwal Sinha
- Max-Planck-Institut für Kernphysik, Saupfercheckweg 1, D-69117 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Naveen Kumar
- Max-Planck-Institut für Kernphysik, Saupfercheckweg 1, D-69117 Heidelberg, Germany
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9
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Hu P, Hu GY, Wang YL, Tang HB, Zhang ZC, Zheng J. Pulsed magnetic field device for laser plasma experiments at Shenguang-II laser facility. THE REVIEW OF SCIENTIFIC INSTRUMENTS 2020; 91:014703. [PMID: 32012643 DOI: 10.1063/1.5139613] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2019] [Accepted: 12/20/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
A pulsed intense magnetic field device was developed for the Shanghai Shenguang-II (SG-II) laser facility. The device using a double-turn coil with 12 mm diameter is capable of producing a peak current of 42 kA with 280 ns rising edge and 200 ns flat top width. A peak magnetic field of 8.8 T is achieved at the center of the coil. A two-section transmission line composed by a flexible section and a rigid section is designed to meet the target chamber environment of SG-II laser facility. The flexible section realizes the soft-connection between the capacitor bank and the target chamber, which facilitates the installation of the magnetic field device and the adjustment of the coil. The rigid section is as small as possible so that it can be inserted into the target chamber from any smallest flange, realizing elastic magnetic field configuration. The magnetic coil inside the chamber can be adjusted finely through a mechanical component on the rigid transmission line outside the target chamber. The adjustment range is up to 5 cm in both radial and axial directions with ∼50 µm precision. The device has been successfully operated on SG-II laser facility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peng Hu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Geospace Environment and Department of Engineering and Applied Physics, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230026, People's Republic of China
| | - Guang-Yue Hu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Geospace Environment and Department of Engineering and Applied Physics, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230026, People's Republic of China
| | - Yu-Lin Wang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Geospace Environment and Department of Engineering and Applied Physics, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230026, People's Republic of China
| | - Hui-Bo Tang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Geospace Environment and Department of Engineering and Applied Physics, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230026, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhen-Chi Zhang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Geospace Environment and Department of Engineering and Applied Physics, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230026, People's Republic of China
| | - Jian Zheng
- CAS Key Laboratory of Geospace Environment and Department of Engineering and Applied Physics, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230026, People's Republic of China
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10
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Lu Y, Li H, Flippo KA, Kelso K, Liao A, Li S, Liang E. MPRAD: A Monte Carlo and ray-tracing code for the proton radiography in high-energy-density plasma experiments. THE REVIEW OF SCIENTIFIC INSTRUMENTS 2019; 90:123503. [PMID: 31893788 DOI: 10.1063/1.5123392] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2019] [Accepted: 11/22/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Proton radiography is used in various high-energy-density (HED) plasma experiments. In this paper, we describe a Monte Carlo and ray-tracing simulation tool called multimegaelectronvolt proton radiography (MPRAD) that can be used for modeling the deflection of proton beams in arbitrary three dimensional electromagnetic fields as well as the diffusion of the proton beams by Coulomb scattering and stopping power. The Coulomb scattering and stopping power models in cold matter and fully ionized plasma are combined using interpolation. We discuss the application of MPRAD in a few setups relevant to HED plasma experiments where the plasma density can play a role in diffusing the proton beams and affecting the prediction and interpretation of the proton images. It is shown how the diffusion due to plasma density can affect the resolution and dynamical range of the proton radiography.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yingchao Lu
- Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico 87545, USA
| | - Hui Li
- Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico 87545, USA
| | - Kirk A Flippo
- Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico 87545, USA
| | - Kwyntero Kelso
- Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico 87545, USA
| | - Andy Liao
- Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico 87545, USA
| | - Shengtai Li
- Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico 87545, USA
| | - Edison Liang
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77005, USA
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11
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Schaeffer DB, Fox W, Follett RK, Fiksel G, Li CK, Matteucci J, Bhattacharjee A, Germaschewski K. Direct Observations of Particle Dynamics in Magnetized Collisionless Shock Precursors in Laser-Produced Plasmas. PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS 2019; 122:245001. [PMID: 31322368 DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.122.245001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2018] [Revised: 05/22/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
We present the first laboratory observations of time-resolved electron and ion velocity distributions in magnetized collisionless shock precursors. Thomson scattering of a probe laser beam was used to observe the interaction of a laser-driven, supersonic piston plasma expanding through an ambient plasma in an external magnetic field. From the Thomson-scattered spectra we measure time-resolved profiles of electron density, temperature, and ion flow speed, as well as spatially resolved magnetic fields from proton radiography. We observe direct evidence of the coupling between piston and ambient plasmas, including the acceleration of ambient ions driven by magnetic and pressure gradient electric fields, and deformation of the piston ion flow, key steps in the formation of magnetized collisionless shocks. Even before a shock has fully formed, we observe strong density compressions and electron heating associated with the pileup of piston ions. The results demonstrate that laboratory experiments can probe particle velocity distributions relevant to collisionless shocks, and can complement, and in some cases overcome, the limitations of similar measurements undertaken by spacecraft missions.
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Affiliation(s)
- D B Schaeffer
- Department of Astrophysical Sciences, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey 08540, USA
| | - W Fox
- Department of Astrophysical Sciences, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey 08540, USA
- Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory, Princeton, New Jersey 08543, USA
| | - R K Follett
- Laboratory for Laser Energetics, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York 14623, USA
| | - G Fiksel
- Center for Ultrafast Optical Science, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA
| | - C K Li
- Plasma Science and Fusion Center, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - J Matteucci
- Department of Astrophysical Sciences, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey 08540, USA
| | - A Bhattacharjee
- Department of Astrophysical Sciences, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey 08540, USA
- Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory, Princeton, New Jersey 08543, USA
| | - K Germaschewski
- Space Science Center, University of New Hampshire, Durham, New Hampshire 03824, USA
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12
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Sinha U, Keitel CH, Kumar N. Polarized Light from the Transportation of a Matter-Antimatter Beam in a Plasma. PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS 2019; 122:204801. [PMID: 31172739 DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.122.204801] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2018] [Revised: 03/26/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
A relativistic electron-positron beam propagating through a magnetized electron-ion plasma is shown to generate both circularly and linearly polarized synchrotron radiations, which is intrinsically linked with asymmetric energy dissipation of the pair beam during the filamentation instability dynamics in the background plasma. The ratio of both polarizations |⟨P_{circ}⟩/⟨P_{lin}⟩|∼0.15, occurring for a wide range of beam-plasma parameters, can help in understanding the recent observation of circularly polarized radiation from gamma-ray bursts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ujjwal Sinha
- Max-Planck-Institut für Kernphysik, Saupfercheckweg 1, D-69117 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Christoph H Keitel
- Max-Planck-Institut für Kernphysik, Saupfercheckweg 1, D-69117 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Naveen Kumar
- Max-Planck-Institut für Kernphysik, Saupfercheckweg 1, D-69117 Heidelberg, Germany
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13
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Abstract
Magnetic reconnections play essential roles in space, astrophysical, and laboratory plasmas, where the anti-parallel magnetic field components re-connect and the magnetic energy is converted to the plasma energy as Alfvénic out flows. Although the electron dynamics is considered to be essential, it is highly challenging to observe electron scale reconnections. Here we show the experimental results on an electron scale reconnection driven by the electron dynamics in laser-produced plasmas. We apply a weak-external magnetic field in the direction perpendicular to the plasma propagation, where the magnetic field is directly coupled with only the electrons but not for the ions. Since the kinetic pressure of plasma is much larger than the magnetic pressure, the magnetic field is distorted and locally anti-parallel. We observe plasma collimations, cusp and plasmoid like features with optical diagnostics. The plasmoid propagates at the electron Alfvén velocity, indicating a reconnection driven by the electron dynamics. Magnetic reconnection is the process of releasing energy by magnetized and space plasma. Here the authors report experimental observation of magnetic reconnection in laser-produced plasma and the role of electron scaling on reconnection.
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14
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Matteucci J, Fox W, Bhattacharjee A, Schaeffer DB, Moissard C, Germaschewski K, Fiksel G, Hu SX. Biermann-Battery-Mediated Magnetic Reconnection in 3D Colliding Plasmas. PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS 2018; 121:095001. [PMID: 30230875 DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.121.095001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2017] [Revised: 06/29/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Recent experiments have demonstrated magnetic reconnection between colliding plasma plumes, where the reconnecting magnetic fields were self-generated in the plasma by the Biermann-battery effect. Using fully kinetic 3D simulations, we show the full evolution of the magnetic fields and plasma in these experiments, including self-consistent magnetic field generation about the expanding plume. The collision of the two plasmas drives the formation of a current sheet, where reconnection occurs in a strongly time- and space-dependent manner, demonstrating a new 3D reconnection mechanism. Specifically, we observe a fast, vertically localized Biermann-mediated reconnection, an inherently 3D process where the temperature profile in the current sheet coupled with the out-of-plane ablation density profile conspires to break inflowing field lines, reconnecting the field downstream. Fast reconnection is sustained by both the Biermann effect and the traceless electron pressure tensor, where the development of plasmoids appears to modulate the contribution of the latter. We present a simple and general formulation to consider the relevance of Biermann-mediated reconnection in general astrophysical scenarios.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Matteucci
- Department of Astrophysical Sciences, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey 08540, USA
| | - W Fox
- Department of Astrophysical Sciences, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey 08540, USA
- Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory, Princeton, New Jersey 08543, USA
| | - A Bhattacharjee
- Department of Astrophysical Sciences, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey 08540, USA
- Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory, Princeton, New Jersey 08543, USA
| | - D B Schaeffer
- Department of Astrophysical Sciences, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey 08540, USA
| | - C Moissard
- Laboratoire de Physique des Plasmas, École Polytechnique, Paris 75252, France
| | - K Germaschewski
- Space Science Center, University of New Hampshire, Durham, New Hampshire 03824, USA
| | - G Fiksel
- Center for Ultrafast Optical Science, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA
| | - S X Hu
- Laboratory for Laser Energetics, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York 14623, USA
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15
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Fiksel G, Backhus R, Barnak DH, Chang PY, Davies JR, Jacobs-Perkins D, McNally P, Spielman RB, Viges E, Betti R. Inductively coupled 30 T magnetic field platform for magnetized high-energy-density plasma studies. THE REVIEW OF SCIENTIFIC INSTRUMENTS 2018; 89:084703. [PMID: 30184699 DOI: 10.1063/1.5040756] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2018] [Accepted: 07/25/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
A pulsed high magnetic field device based on the inductively coupled coil concept [D. H. Barnak et al., Rev. Sci. Instrum. 89, 033501 (2018)] is described. The device can be used for studying magnetized high-energy-density plasma and is capable of producing a pulsed magnetic field of 30 T inside a single-turn coil with an inner diameter of 6.5 mm and a length of 6.3 mm. The magnetic field is created by discharging a high-voltage capacitor through a multi-turn solenoid, which is inductively coupled to a small single-turn coil. The solenoid electric current pulse of tens of kA and a duration of several μs is inductively transformed to hundreds of kA in the single-turn coil, thus enabling a high magnetic field. Unlike directly driven single-turn systems that require a high-current and low-inductive power supply, the inductively coupled system operates using a relatively low-current power supply with very relaxed requirements for its inductance. This arrangement significantly simplifies the design of the power supply and also makes it possible to place the power supply at a significant distance from the coil. In addition, the device is designed to contain possible wire debris, which makes it attractive for debris-sensitive applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Fiksel
- Center for Ultrafast Optical Science, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA
| | - R Backhus
- Space Research Laboratory, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA
| | - D H Barnak
- Laboratory for Laser Energetics, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York 14623, USA
| | - P-Y Chang
- Institute of Space and Plasma Sciences, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - J R Davies
- Laboratory for Laser Energetics, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York 14623, USA
| | - D Jacobs-Perkins
- Laboratory for Laser Energetics, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York 14623, USA
| | - P McNally
- Space Research Laboratory, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA
| | - R B Spielman
- Laboratory for Laser Energetics, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York 14623, USA
| | - E Viges
- Space Research Laboratory, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA
| | - R Betti
- Laboratory for Laser Energetics, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York 14623, USA
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16
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Yi L, Shen B, Pukhov A, Fülöp T. Relativistic magnetic reconnection driven by a laser interacting with a micro-scale plasma slab. Nat Commun 2018; 9:1601. [PMID: 29686280 PMCID: PMC5913235 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-04065-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2017] [Accepted: 03/30/2018] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Magnetic reconnection (MR) is a fundamental plasma process associated with conversion of the magnetic field energy into kinetic plasma energy, which is invoked to explain many non-thermal signatures in astrophysical events. Here we demonstrate that ultrafast relativistic MR in a magnetically dominated regime can be triggered by a readily available (TW-mJ-class) laser interacting with a micro-scale plasma slab. Three-dimensional (3D) particle-in-cell (PIC) simulations show that when the electrons beams excited on both sides of the slab approach the end of the plasma, MR occurs and it gives rise to efficient energy dissipation that leads to the emission of relativistic electron jets with cut-off energy ~12 MeV. The proposed scenario allows for accessing an unprecedented regime of MR in the laboratory, and may lead to experimental studies that can provide insight into open questions such as reconnection rate and particle acceleration in relativistic MR. Plasma releases magnetic energy by magnetic reconnection but the clear evidence of this phenomenon in relativistic regime is still lacking. Here the authors present a scheme for laboratory observation of the relativistic magnetic reconnection driven by laser-produced energetic electrons in the plasma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Longqing Yi
- Department of Physics, Chalmers University of Technology, 41296, Gothenburg, Sweden. .,State Key Laboratory of High Field Laser Physics, Shanghai Institute of Optics and Fine Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, P.O. Box 800-211, 201800, Shanghai, China.
| | - Baifei Shen
- Department of Physics, Shanghai Normal University, 200234, Shanghai, China
| | - Alexander Pukhov
- Institut für Theoretische Physik I, Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf, 40225, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Tünde Fülöp
- Department of Physics, Chalmers University of Technology, 41296, Gothenburg, Sweden
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17
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Barnak DH, Davies JR, Fiksel G, Chang PY, Zabir E, Betti R. Increasing the magnetic-field capability of the magneto-inertial fusion electrical discharge system using an inductively coupled coil. THE REVIEW OF SCIENTIFIC INSTRUMENTS 2018; 89:033501. [PMID: 29604743 DOI: 10.1063/1.5012531] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Magnetized high energy density physics (HEDP) is a very active and relatively unexplored field that has applications in inertial confinement fusion, astrophysical plasma science, and basic plasma physics. A self-contained device, the Magneto-Inertial Fusion Electrical Discharge System, MIFEDS [G. Fiksel et al., Rev. Sci. Instrum. 86, 016105 (2015)], was developed at the Laboratory for Laser Energetics to conduct magnetized HEDP experiments on both the OMEGA [T. R. Boehly et al., Opt. Commun. 133, 495-506 (1997)] and OMEGA EP [J. H. Kelly et al., J. Phys. IV France 133, 75 (2006) and L. J. Waxer et al., Opt. Photonics News 16, 30 (2005)] laser systems. Extremely high magnetic fields are a necessity for magnetized HEDP, and the need for stronger magnetic fields continues to drive the redevelopment of the MIFEDS device. It is proposed in this paper that a magnetic coil that is inductively coupled rather than directly connecting to the MIFEDS device can increase the overall strength of the magnetic field for HEDP experiments by increasing the efficiency of energy transfer while decreasing the effective magnetized volume. A brief explanation of the energy delivery of the MIFEDS device illustrates the benefit of inductive coupling and is compared to that of direct connection for varying coil size and geometry. A prototype was then constructed to demonstrate a 7-fold increase in energy delivery using inductive coupling.
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Affiliation(s)
- D H Barnak
- Laboratory for Laser Energetics, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York 14623, USA
| | - J R Davies
- Laboratory for Laser Energetics, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York 14623, USA
| | - G Fiksel
- Center for Ultrafast Optical Science, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-2099, USA
| | - P-Y Chang
- Institute of Space and Plasma Sciences, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - E Zabir
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York 14623, USA
| | - R Betti
- Laboratory for Laser Energetics, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York 14623, USA
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18
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Revet G, Chen SN, Bonito R, Khiar B, Filippov E, Argiroffi C, Higginson DP, Orlando S, Béard J, Blecher M, Borghesi M, Burdonov K, Khaghani D, Naughton K, Pépin H, Portugall O, Riquier R, Rodriguez R, Ryazantsev SN, Yu. Skobelev I, Soloviev A, Willi O, Pikuz S, Ciardi A, Fuchs J. Laboratory unraveling of matter accretion in young stars. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2017; 3:e1700982. [PMID: 29109974 PMCID: PMC5665592 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.1700982] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2017] [Accepted: 10/05/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Accretion dynamics in the formation of young stars is still a matter of debate because of limitations in observations and modeling. Through scaled laboratory experiments of collimated plasma accretion onto a solid in the presence of a magnetic field, we open a first window on this phenomenon by tracking, with spatial and temporal resolution, the dynamics of the system and simultaneously measuring multiband emissions. We observe in these experiments that matter, upon impact, is ejected laterally from the solid surface and then refocused by the magnetic field toward the incoming stream. This ejected matter forms a plasma shell that envelops the shocked core, reducing escaped x-ray emission. This finding demonstrates one possible structure reconciling current discrepancies between mass accretion rates derived from x-ray and optical observations, respectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guilhem Revet
- Institute of Applied Physics, 46 Ulyanov Street, 603950 Nizhny Novgorod, Russia
- LULI (Laboratoire pour l’Utilisation des Lasers Intenses)–CNRS, École Polytechnique; Commissariat à l’Energie Atomique et aux Energies Alternatives (CEA), Université Paris-Saclay; Sorbonne Universités, Universite Pierre et Marie Curie (UPMC) Paris 06, F-91128 Palaiseau cedex, France
| | - Sophia N. Chen
- Institute of Applied Physics, 46 Ulyanov Street, 603950 Nizhny Novgorod, Russia
- LULI (Laboratoire pour l’Utilisation des Lasers Intenses)–CNRS, École Polytechnique; Commissariat à l’Energie Atomique et aux Energies Alternatives (CEA), Université Paris-Saclay; Sorbonne Universités, Universite Pierre et Marie Curie (UPMC) Paris 06, F-91128 Palaiseau cedex, France
| | - Rosaria Bonito
- INAF (Istituto Nazionale di Astrofisica)–Osservatorio Astronomico di Palermo, Palermo, Italy
- Dipartimento di Fisica e Chimica, Università di Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Benjamin Khiar
- Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Paris 06, Observatoire de Paris, PSL (Paris Sciences et Lettre) Research University, CNRS, UMR 8112, LERMA (Laboratoire d’Etudes du Rayonnement et de la Matière en Astrophysique), F-75005 Paris, France
| | - Evgeny Filippov
- National Research Nuclear University MEPhI (Moscow Engineering Physics Institute), Moscow 115409, Russia
- Joint Institute for High Temperatures, RAS (Russian Academy of Sciences), Moscow 125412, Russia
| | | | - Drew P. Higginson
- LULI (Laboratoire pour l’Utilisation des Lasers Intenses)–CNRS, École Polytechnique; Commissariat à l’Energie Atomique et aux Energies Alternatives (CEA), Université Paris-Saclay; Sorbonne Universités, Universite Pierre et Marie Curie (UPMC) Paris 06, F-91128 Palaiseau cedex, France
- Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, CA 94551, USA
| | - Salvatore Orlando
- INAF (Istituto Nazionale di Astrofisica)–Osservatorio Astronomico di Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Jérôme Béard
- LNCMI (Laboratoire National des Champs Magnétiques Intenses), UPR 3228, CNRS-UGA-UPS-INSA, Toulouse 31400, France
| | - Marius Blecher
- Institut für Laser- und Plasmaphysik, Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf, D-40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Marco Borghesi
- Centre for Plasma Physics, Queen’s University of Belfast, Belfast BT7 1NN, UK
| | - Konstantin Burdonov
- Institute of Applied Physics, 46 Ulyanov Street, 603950 Nizhny Novgorod, Russia
| | - Dimitri Khaghani
- GSI (Gesellschaft für Schwerionenforschung) Helmholtzzentrum für Schwerionenforschung GmbH, 64291 Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Kealan Naughton
- Centre for Plasma Physics, Queen’s University of Belfast, Belfast BT7 1NN, UK
| | - Henri Pépin
- INRS-EMT (Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique, Énergie, Matériaux et Télécommunication), Varennes, Québec, Canada
| | - Oliver Portugall
- LNCMI (Laboratoire National des Champs Magnétiques Intenses), UPR 3228, CNRS-UGA-UPS-INSA, Toulouse 31400, France
| | - Raphael Riquier
- LULI (Laboratoire pour l’Utilisation des Lasers Intenses)–CNRS, École Polytechnique; Commissariat à l’Energie Atomique et aux Energies Alternatives (CEA), Université Paris-Saclay; Sorbonne Universités, Universite Pierre et Marie Curie (UPMC) Paris 06, F-91128 Palaiseau cedex, France
- CEA, DAM, DIF (Commissariat à l’Energie Atomique Energie Atomique, Direction des Applications Militaires Île de France), 91297 Arpajon, France
| | - Rafael Rodriguez
- Departamento de Fisica de la Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, E-35017 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain
| | - Sergei N. Ryazantsev
- Joint Institute for High Temperatures, RAS (Russian Academy of Sciences), Moscow 125412, Russia
| | - Igor Yu. Skobelev
- National Research Nuclear University MEPhI (Moscow Engineering Physics Institute), Moscow 115409, Russia
- Joint Institute for High Temperatures, RAS (Russian Academy of Sciences), Moscow 125412, Russia
| | - Alexander Soloviev
- Institute of Applied Physics, 46 Ulyanov Street, 603950 Nizhny Novgorod, Russia
| | - Oswald Willi
- Institut für Laser- und Plasmaphysik, Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf, D-40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Sergey Pikuz
- National Research Nuclear University MEPhI (Moscow Engineering Physics Institute), Moscow 115409, Russia
- Joint Institute for High Temperatures, RAS (Russian Academy of Sciences), Moscow 125412, Russia
| | - Andrea Ciardi
- Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Paris 06, Observatoire de Paris, PSL (Paris Sciences et Lettre) Research University, CNRS, UMR 8112, LERMA (Laboratoire d’Etudes du Rayonnement et de la Matière en Astrophysique), F-75005 Paris, France
| | - Julien Fuchs
- Institute of Applied Physics, 46 Ulyanov Street, 603950 Nizhny Novgorod, Russia
- LULI (Laboratoire pour l’Utilisation des Lasers Intenses)–CNRS, École Polytechnique; Commissariat à l’Energie Atomique et aux Energies Alternatives (CEA), Université Paris-Saclay; Sorbonne Universités, Universite Pierre et Marie Curie (UPMC) Paris 06, F-91128 Palaiseau cedex, France
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19
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Schaeffer DB, Fox W, Haberberger D, Fiksel G, Bhattacharjee A, Barnak DH, Hu SX, Germaschewski K. Generation and Evolution of High-Mach-Number Laser-Driven Magnetized Collisionless Shocks in the Laboratory. PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS 2017; 119:025001. [PMID: 28753335 DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.119.025001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
We present the first laboratory generation of high-Mach-number magnetized collisionless shocks created through the interaction of an expanding laser-driven plasma with a magnetized ambient plasma. Time-resolved, two-dimensional imaging of plasma density and magnetic fields shows the formation and evolution of a supercritical shock propagating at magnetosonic Mach number M_{ms}≈12. Particle-in-cell simulations constrained by experimental data further detail the shock formation and separate dynamics of the multi-ion-species ambient plasma. The results show that the shocks form on time scales as fast as one gyroperiod, aided by the efficient coupling of energy, and the generation of a magnetic barrier between the piston and ambient ions. The development of this experimental platform complements present remote sensing and spacecraft observations, and opens the way for controlled laboratory investigations of high-Mach number collisionless shocks, including the mechanisms and efficiency of particle acceleration.
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Affiliation(s)
- D B Schaeffer
- Department of Astrophysical Sciences, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey 08540, USA
| | - W Fox
- Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory, Princeton, New Jersey 08543, USA
| | - D Haberberger
- Laboratory for Laser Energetics, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York 14623, USA
| | - G Fiksel
- Center for Ultrafast Optical Science, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA
| | - A Bhattacharjee
- Department of Astrophysical Sciences, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey 08540, USA
- Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory, Princeton, New Jersey 08543, USA
| | - D H Barnak
- Laboratory for Laser Energetics, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York 14623, USA
- Fusion Science Center for Extreme States of Matter, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York 14623, USA
| | - S X Hu
- Laboratory for Laser Energetics, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York 14623, USA
| | - K Germaschewski
- Space Science Center, University of New Hampshire, Durham, New Hampshire 03824, USA
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20
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Goyon C, Pollock BB, Turnbull DP, Hazi A, Divol L, Farmer WA, Haberberger D, Javedani J, Johnson AJ, Kemp A, Levy MC, Grant Logan B, Mariscal DA, Landen OL, Patankar S, Ross JS, Rubenchik AM, Swadling GF, Williams GJ, Fujioka S, Law KFF, Moody JD. Ultrafast probing of magnetic field growth inside a laser-driven solenoid. Phys Rev E 2017; 95:033208. [PMID: 28415195 DOI: 10.1103/physreve.95.033208] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2016] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
We report on the detection of the time-dependent B-field amplitude and topology in a laser-driven solenoid. The B-field inferred from both proton deflectometry and Faraday rotation ramps up linearly in time reaching 210 ± 35 T at the end of a 0.75-ns laser drive with 1 TW at 351 nm. A lumped-element circuit model agrees well with the linear rise and suggests that the blow-off plasma screens the field between the plates leading to an increased plate capacitance that converts the laser-generated hot-electron current into a voltage source that drives current through the solenoid. ALE3D modeling shows that target disassembly and current diffusion may limit the B-field increase for longer laser drive. Scaling of these experimental results to a National Ignition Facility (NIF) hohlraum target size (∼0.2cm^{3}) indicates that it is possible to achieve several tens of Tesla.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Goyon
- Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California 94551, USA
| | - B B Pollock
- Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California 94551, USA
| | - D P Turnbull
- Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California 94551, USA
| | - A Hazi
- Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California 94551, USA
| | - L Divol
- Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California 94551, USA
| | - W A Farmer
- Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California 94551, USA
| | - D Haberberger
- Laboratory for Laser Energetics, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York 14623, USA
| | - J Javedani
- Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California 94551, USA
| | - A J Johnson
- Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California 94551, USA
| | - A Kemp
- Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California 94551, USA
| | - M C Levy
- Department of Physics, University of Oxford, Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3PU, United Kingdom
| | - B Grant Logan
- Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California 94551, USA
| | - D A Mariscal
- Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California 94551, USA
| | - O L Landen
- Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California 94551, USA
| | - S Patankar
- Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California 94551, USA
| | - J S Ross
- Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California 94551, USA
| | - A M Rubenchik
- Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California 94551, USA
| | - G F Swadling
- Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California 94551, USA
| | - G J Williams
- Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California 94551, USA
| | - S Fujioka
- Institute of Laser Engineering, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
| | - K F F Law
- Institute of Laser Engineering, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
| | - J D Moody
- Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California 94551, USA
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21
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Hare JD, Suttle L, Lebedev SV, Loureiro NF, Ciardi A, Burdiak GC, Chittenden JP, Clayson T, Garcia C, Niasse N, Robinson T, Smith RA, Stuart N, Suzuki-Vidal F, Swadling GF, Ma J, Wu J, Yang Q. Anomalous Heating and Plasmoid Formation in a Driven Magnetic Reconnection Experiment. PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS 2017; 118:085001. [PMID: 28282176 DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.118.085001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
We present a detailed study of magnetic reconnection in a quasi-two-dimensional pulsed-power driven laboratory experiment. Oppositely directed magnetic fields (B=3 T), advected by supersonic, sub-Alfvénic carbon plasma flows (V_{in}=50 km/s), are brought together and mutually annihilate inside a thin current layer (δ=0.6 mm). Temporally and spatially resolved optical diagnostics, including interferometry, Faraday rotation imaging, and Thomson scattering, allow us to determine the structure and dynamics of this layer, the nature of the inflows and outflows, and the detailed energy partition during the reconnection process. We measure high electron and ion temperatures (T_{e}=100 eV, T_{i}=600 eV), far in excess of what can be attributed to classical (Spitzer) resistive and viscous dissipation. We observe the repeated formation and ejection of plasmoids, consistent with the predictions from semicollisional plasmoid theory.
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Affiliation(s)
- J D Hare
- Blackett Laboratory, Imperial College, London, SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom
| | - L Suttle
- Blackett Laboratory, Imperial College, London, SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom
| | - S V Lebedev
- Blackett Laboratory, Imperial College, London, SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom
| | - N F Loureiro
- Plasma Science and Fusion Center, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge Massachusetts 02139, USA
| | - A Ciardi
- Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Univ Paris 06, Observatoire de Paris, PSL Research University, CNRS, UMR 8112, LERMA F-75005, Paris, France
| | - G C Burdiak
- Blackett Laboratory, Imperial College, London, SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom
| | - J P Chittenden
- Blackett Laboratory, Imperial College, London, SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom
| | - T Clayson
- Blackett Laboratory, Imperial College, London, SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom
| | - C Garcia
- Blackett Laboratory, Imperial College, London, SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom
| | - N Niasse
- Blackett Laboratory, Imperial College, London, SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom
| | - T Robinson
- Blackett Laboratory, Imperial College, London, SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom
| | - R A Smith
- Blackett Laboratory, Imperial College, London, SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom
| | - N Stuart
- Blackett Laboratory, Imperial College, London, SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom
| | - F Suzuki-Vidal
- Blackett Laboratory, Imperial College, London, SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom
| | - G F Swadling
- Blackett Laboratory, Imperial College, London, SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom
| | - J Ma
- Northwest Institute of Nuclear Technology, Xi'an 710024, China
| | - J Wu
- Xi'an Jiaotong University, Shaanxi 710049, China
| | - Q Yang
- Institute of Fluid Physics, China Academy of Engineering Physics, Mianyang 621900, China
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22
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Zweibel EG, Yamada M. Perspectives on magnetic reconnection. Proc Math Phys Eng Sci 2016; 472:20160479. [PMID: 28119547 PMCID: PMC5247523 DOI: 10.1098/rspa.2016.0479] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2016] [Accepted: 10/31/2016] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Magnetic reconnection is a topological rearrangement of magnetic field that occurs on time scales much faster than the global magnetic diffusion time. Since the field lines break on microscopic scales but energy is stored and the field is driven on macroscopic scales, reconnection is an inherently multi-scale process that often involves both magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) and kinetic phenomena. In this article, we begin with the MHD point of view and then describe the dynamics and energetics of reconnection using a two-fluid formulation. We also focus on the respective roles of global and local processes and how they are coupled. We conclude that the triggers for reconnection are mostly global, that the key energy conversion and dissipation processes are either local or global, and that the presence of a continuum of scales coupled from microscopic to macroscopic may be the most likely path to fast reconnection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ellen G Zweibel
- Departments of Astronomy and Physics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA; Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA
| | - Masaaki Yamada
- Departments of Astronomy and Physics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA; Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA
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23
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Smith RJ, Weber TE. A streak camera based fiber optic pulsed polarimetry technique for magnetic sensing to sub-mm resolution. THE REVIEW OF SCIENTIFIC INSTRUMENTS 2016; 87:11E725. [PMID: 27910338 DOI: 10.1063/1.4962246] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
The technique of fiber optic pulsed polarimetry, which provides a distributed (local) measurement of the magnetic field along an optical fiber, has been improved to the point where, for the first time, photocathode based optical detection of backscatter is possible with sub-mm spatial resolutions. This has been realized through the writing of an array of deterministic fiber Bragg gratings along the fiber, a so-called backscatter-tailored optical fiber, producing a 34 000-fold increase in backscatter levels over Rayleigh. With such high backscatter levels, high repetition rate lasers are now sufficiently bright to allow near continuous field sensing in both space and time with field resolutions as low as 0.005 T and as high as 170 T over a ∼mm interval given available fiber materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- R J Smith
- Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, USA
| | - T E Weber
- Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico 87545, USA
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24
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Suttle LG, Hare JD, Lebedev SV, Swadling GF, Burdiak GC, Ciardi A, Chittenden JP, Loureiro NF, Niasse N, Suzuki-Vidal F, Wu J, Yang Q, Clayson T, Frank A, Robinson TS, Smith RA, Stuart N. Structure of a Magnetic Flux Annihilation Layer Formed by the Collision of Supersonic, Magnetized Plasma Flows. PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS 2016; 116:225001. [PMID: 27314720 DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.116.225001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
We present experiments characterizing the detailed structure of a current layer, generated by the collision of two counterstreaming, supersonic and magnetized aluminum plasma flows. The antiparallel magnetic fields advected by the flows are found to be mutually annihilated inside the layer, giving rise to a bifurcated current structure-two narrow current sheets running along the outside surfaces of the layer. Measurements with Thomson scattering show a fast outflow of plasma along the layer and a high ion temperature (T_{i}∼Z[over ¯]T_{e}, with average ionization Z[over ¯]=7). Analysis of the spatially resolved plasma parameters indicates that the advection and subsequent annihilation of the inflowing magnetic flux determines the structure of the layer, while the ion heating could be due to the development of kinetic, current-driven instabilities.
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Affiliation(s)
- L G Suttle
- Blackett Laboratory, Imperial College, London SW7 2BW, United Kingdom
| | - J D Hare
- Blackett Laboratory, Imperial College, London SW7 2BW, United Kingdom
| | - S V Lebedev
- Blackett Laboratory, Imperial College, London SW7 2BW, United Kingdom
| | - G F Swadling
- Blackett Laboratory, Imperial College, London SW7 2BW, United Kingdom
| | - G C Burdiak
- Blackett Laboratory, Imperial College, London SW7 2BW, United Kingdom
| | - A Ciardi
- Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Universités Paris 6, UMR 8112, LERMA, Paris F-75005, France
- LERMA, Observatoire de Paris, PSL Research University, CNRS, UMR 8112, Paris F-75014, France
| | - J P Chittenden
- Blackett Laboratory, Imperial College, London SW7 2BW, United Kingdom
| | - N F Loureiro
- Plasma Science and Fusion Center, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA
| | - N Niasse
- Blackett Laboratory, Imperial College, London SW7 2BW, United Kingdom
| | - F Suzuki-Vidal
- Blackett Laboratory, Imperial College, London SW7 2BW, United Kingdom
| | - J Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Electrical Insulation and Power Equipment, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710049, China
| | - Q Yang
- Institute of Fluid Physics, China Academy of Engineering Physics, Mianyang 621900, China
| | - T Clayson
- Blackett Laboratory, Imperial College, London SW7 2BW, United Kingdom
| | - A Frank
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York 14627, USA
| | - T S Robinson
- Blackett Laboratory, Imperial College, London SW7 2BW, United Kingdom
| | - R A Smith
- Blackett Laboratory, Imperial College, London SW7 2BW, United Kingdom
| | - N Stuart
- Blackett Laboratory, Imperial College, London SW7 2BW, United Kingdom
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25
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Joglekar AS, Ridgers CP, Kingham RJ, Thomas AGR. Kinetic modeling of Nernst effect in magnetized hohlraums. Phys Rev E 2016; 93:043206. [PMID: 27176417 DOI: 10.1103/physreve.93.043206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2015] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
We present nanosecond time-scale Vlasov-Fokker-Planck-Maxwell modeling of magnetized plasma transport and dynamics in a hohlraum with an applied external magnetic field, under conditions similar to recent experiments. Self-consistent modeling of the kinetic electron momentum equation allows for a complete treatment of the heat flow equation and Ohm's law, including Nernst advection of magnetic fields. In addition to showing the prevalence of nonlocal behavior, we demonstrate that effects such as anomalous heat flow are induced by inverse bremsstrahlung heating. We show magnetic field amplification up to a factor of 3 from Nernst compression into the hohlraum wall. The magnetic field is also expelled towards the hohlraum axis due to Nernst advection faster than frozen-in flux would suggest. Nonlocality contributes to the heat flow towards the hohlraum axis and results in an augmented Nernst advection mechanism that is included self-consistently through kinetic modeling.
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Affiliation(s)
- A S Joglekar
- Department of Nuclear Engineering and Radiological Sciences, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA
| | - C P Ridgers
- York Plasma Institute, Department of Physics, University of York, Heslington, York, YO10 5DD, United Kingdom
| | - R J Kingham
- Blackett Laboratory, Imperial College London, London SW7 2BW, United Kingdom
| | - A G R Thomas
- Department of Nuclear Engineering and Radiological Sciences, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA
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26
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Avino F, Fasoli A, Furno I, Ricci P, Theiler C. X-Point Effect on Plasma Blob Dynamics. PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS 2016; 116:105001. [PMID: 27015485 DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.116.105001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2015] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Plasma blob dynamics on the high-field side in the proximity of a magnetic field null (X point) is investigated in TORPEX. A significant acceleration of the blobs towards the X point is observed. Close to the X point the blobs break apart. The E×B drifts associated with the blobs are measured, isolating the background drift component from the fluctuating contribution of the blob internal potential dipole. The time evolution of the latter is consistent with the fast blob dynamics. An analytical model based on charge conservation is derived for the potential dipole, including ion polarization, diamagnetic, and parallel currents. In the vicinity of the X point, a crucial role in determining the blob motion is played by the decrease of the poloidal magnetic field intensity. This variation increases the connection length that short circuits the potential dipole of the blob. Good quantitative agreement is found between the model and the experimental data in the initial accelerating phase of the blob dynamics.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Avino
- Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Swiss Plasma Center (SPC), CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - A Fasoli
- Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Swiss Plasma Center (SPC), CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - I Furno
- Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Swiss Plasma Center (SPC), CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - P Ricci
- Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Swiss Plasma Center (SPC), CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - C Theiler
- Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Swiss Plasma Center (SPC), CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
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27
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Totorica SR, Abel T, Fiuza F. Nonthermal Electron Energization from Magnetic Reconnection in Laser-Driven Plasmas. PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS 2016; 116:095003. [PMID: 26991182 DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.116.095003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2015] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
The possibility of studying nonthermal electron energization in laser-driven plasma experiments of magnetic reconnection is studied using two- and three-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations. It is demonstrated that nonthermal electrons with energies more than an order of magnitude larger than the initial thermal energy can be produced in plasma conditions currently accessible in the laboratory. Electrons are accelerated by the reconnection electric field, being injected at varied distances from the X points, and in some cases trapped in plasmoids, before escaping the finite-sized system. Trapped electrons can be further energized by the electric field arising from the motion of the plasmoid. This acceleration gives rise to a nonthermal electron component that resembles a power-law spectrum, containing up to ∼8% of the initial energy of the interacting electrons and ∼24% of the initial magnetic energy. Estimates of the maximum electron energy and of the plasma conditions required to observe suprathermal electron acceleration are provided, paving the way for a new platform for the experimental study of particle acceleration induced by reconnection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel R Totorica
- Kavli Institute for Particle Astrophysics and Cosmology, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, USA
- Department of Physics, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, USA
- High Energy Density Science Division, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Menlo Park, California 94025, USA
| | - Tom Abel
- Kavli Institute for Particle Astrophysics and Cosmology, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, USA
- Department of Physics, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, USA
- SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Menlo Park, California 94025, USA
| | - Frederico Fiuza
- High Energy Density Science Division, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Menlo Park, California 94025, USA
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28
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Rosenberg MJ, Li CK, Fox W, Zylstra AB, Stoeckl C, Séguin FH, Frenje JA, Petrasso RD. Slowing of Magnetic Reconnection Concurrent with Weakening Plasma Inflows and Increasing Collisionality in Strongly Driven Laser-Plasma Experiments. PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS 2015; 114:205004. [PMID: 26047236 DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.114.205004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2014] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
An evolution of magnetic reconnection behavior, from fast jets to the slowing of reconnection and the establishment of a stable current sheet, has been observed in strongly driven, β≲20 laser-produced plasma experiments. This process has been inferred to occur alongside a slowing of plasma inflows carrying the oppositely directed magnetic fields as well as the evolution of plasma conditions from collisionless to collisional. High-resolution proton radiography has revealed unprecedented detail of the forced interaction of magnetic fields and super-Alfvénic electron jets (V_{jet}∼20V_{A}) ejected from the reconnection region, indicating that two-fluid or collisionless magnetic reconnection occurs early in time. The absence of jets and the persistence of strong, stable magnetic fields at late times indicates that the reconnection process slows down, while plasma flows stagnate and plasma conditions evolve to a cooler, denser, more collisional state. These results demonstrate that powerful initial plasma flows are not sufficient to force a complete reconnection of magnetic fields, even in the strongly driven regime.
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Affiliation(s)
- M J Rosenberg
- Plasma Science and Fusion Center, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA
| | - C K Li
- Plasma Science and Fusion Center, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA
| | - W Fox
- Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory, Princeton, New Jersey 08543, USA
| | - A B Zylstra
- Plasma Science and Fusion Center, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA
| | - C Stoeckl
- Laboratory for Laser Energetics, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York 14623, USA
| | - F H Séguin
- Plasma Science and Fusion Center, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA
| | - J A Frenje
- Plasma Science and Fusion Center, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA
| | - R D Petrasso
- Plasma Science and Fusion Center, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA
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29
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Fiksel G, Agliata A, Barnak D, Brent G, Chang PY, Folnsbee L, Gates G, Hasset D, Lonobile D, Magoon J, Mastrosimone D, Shoup MJ, Betti R. Note: Experimental platform for magnetized high-energy-density plasma studies at the omega laser facility. THE REVIEW OF SCIENTIFIC INSTRUMENTS 2015; 86:016105. [PMID: 25638132 DOI: 10.1063/1.4905625] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
An upgrade of the pulsed magnetic field generator magneto-inertial fusion electrical discharge system [O. Gotchev et al., Rev. Sci. Instrum. 80, 043504 (2009)] is described. The device is used to study magnetized high-energy-density plasma and is capable of producing a pulsed magnetic field of tens of tesla in a volume of a few cubic centimeters. The magnetic field is created by discharging a high-voltage capacitor through a small wire-wound coil. The coil current pulse has a duration of about 1 μs and a peak value of 40 kA. Compared to the original, the updated version has a larger energy storage and improved switching system. In addition, magnetic coils are fabricated using 3-D printing technology which allows for a greater variety of the magnetic field topology.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Fiksel
- Laboratory for Laser Energetics, University of Rochester, 250 East River Rd, Rochester, New York 14623-1299, USA
| | - A Agliata
- Laboratory for Laser Energetics, University of Rochester, 250 East River Rd, Rochester, New York 14623-1299, USA
| | - D Barnak
- Laboratory for Laser Energetics, University of Rochester, 250 East River Rd, Rochester, New York 14623-1299, USA
| | - G Brent
- Laboratory for Laser Energetics, University of Rochester, 250 East River Rd, Rochester, New York 14623-1299, USA
| | - P-Y Chang
- Laboratory for Laser Energetics, University of Rochester, 250 East River Rd, Rochester, New York 14623-1299, USA
| | - L Folnsbee
- Laboratory for Laser Energetics, University of Rochester, 250 East River Rd, Rochester, New York 14623-1299, USA
| | - G Gates
- Laboratory for Laser Energetics, University of Rochester, 250 East River Rd, Rochester, New York 14623-1299, USA
| | - D Hasset
- Laboratory for Laser Energetics, University of Rochester, 250 East River Rd, Rochester, New York 14623-1299, USA
| | - D Lonobile
- Laboratory for Laser Energetics, University of Rochester, 250 East River Rd, Rochester, New York 14623-1299, USA
| | - J Magoon
- Laboratory for Laser Energetics, University of Rochester, 250 East River Rd, Rochester, New York 14623-1299, USA
| | - D Mastrosimone
- Laboratory for Laser Energetics, University of Rochester, 250 East River Rd, Rochester, New York 14623-1299, USA
| | - M J Shoup
- Laboratory for Laser Energetics, University of Rochester, 250 East River Rd, Rochester, New York 14623-1299, USA
| | - R Betti
- Laboratory for Laser Energetics, University of Rochester, 250 East River Rd, Rochester, New York 14623-1299, USA
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