1
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Gong Z, Hatsagortsyan KZ, Keitel CH. Electron Polarization in Ultrarelativistic Plasma Current Filamentation Instabilities. PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS 2023; 130:015101. [PMID: 36669225 DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.130.015101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2022] [Revised: 10/30/2022] [Accepted: 11/28/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Plasma current filamentation of an ultrarelativistic electron beam impinging on an overdense plasma is investigated, with emphasis on radiation-induced electron polarization. Particle-in-cell simulations provide the classification and in-depth analysis of three different regimes of the current filaments, namely, the normal filament, abnormal filament, and quenching regimes. We show that electron radiative polarization emerges during the instability along the azimuthal direction in the momentum space, which significantly varies across the regimes. We put forward an intuitive Hamiltonian model to trace the origin of the electron polarization dynamics. In particular, we discern the role of nonlinear transverse motion of plasma filaments, which induces asymmetry in radiative spin flips, yielding an accumulation of electron polarization. Our results break the conventional perception that quasisymmetric fields are inefficient for generating radiative spin-polarized beams, suggesting the potential of electron polarization as a source of new information on laboratory and astrophysical plasma instabilities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zheng Gong
- Max-Planck-Institut für Kernphysik, Saupfercheckweg 1, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany
| | | | - Christoph H Keitel
- Max-Planck-Institut für Kernphysik, Saupfercheckweg 1, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany
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2
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Bresci V, Gremillet L, Lemoine M. Saturation of the asymmetric current filamentation instability under conditions relevant to relativistic shock precursors. Phys Rev E 2022; 105:035202. [PMID: 35428059 DOI: 10.1103/physreve.105.035202] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2021] [Accepted: 02/13/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
The current filamentation instability, which generically arises in the counterstreaming of plasma flows, is known for its ability to convert the free energy associated with anisotropic momentum distributions into kinetic-scale magnetic fields. The saturation of this instability has been extensively studied in symmetric configurations where the interpenetrating plasmas share the same properties (velocity, density, temperature). In many physical settings, however, the most common configuration is that of asymmetric plasma flows. For instance, the precursor of relativistic collisionless shock waves involves a hot, dilute beam of accelerated particles reflected at the shock front and a cold, dense inflowing background plasma. To determine the appropriate criterion for saturation in this case, we have performed large-scale two-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations of counterstreaming electron-positron pair and electron-ion plasmas. We show that, in interpenetrating pair plasmas, the relevant criterion is that of magnetic trapping as applied to the component (beam or plasma) that carries the larger inertia of the two; namely, the instability growth suddenly slows down once the quiver frequency of those particles equals or exceeds the instability growth rate. We present theoretical approximations for the saturation level. These findings remain valid for electron-ion plasmas provided that electrons and ions are close to equipartition in the plasma flow of larger inertia. Our results can be directly applied to the physics of relativistic, weakly magnetized shock waves, but they can also be generalized to other cases of study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Virginia Bresci
- Institut d'Astrophysique de Paris, CNRS - Sorbonne Université, 98 bis boulevard Arago, F-75014 Paris, France
- CEA, DAM, DIF, F-91297 Arpajon, France
| | - Laurent Gremillet
- CEA, DAM, DIF, F-91297 Arpajon, France
- Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, LMCE, 91680 Bruyères-le-Châtel, France
| | - Martin Lemoine
- Institut d'Astrophysique de Paris, CNRS - Sorbonne Université, 98 bis boulevard Arago, F-75014 Paris, France
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3
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Luk Yanchuk B, Vasilyak LM, Pecherkin VY, Vetchinin SP, Fortov VE, Wang ZB, Paniagua-Domínguez R, Fedyanin AA. Colossal magnetic fields in high refractive index materials at microwave frequencies. Sci Rep 2021; 11:23453. [PMID: 34873201 PMCID: PMC8648870 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-01644-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2021] [Accepted: 10/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Resonant scattering of electromagnetic waves is a widely studied phenomenon with a vast range of applications that span completely different fields, from astronomy or meteorology to spectroscopy and optical circuitry. Despite being subject of intensive research for many decades, new fundamental aspects are still being uncovered, in connection with emerging areas, such as metamaterials and metasurfaces or quantum and topological optics, to mention some. In this work, we demonstrate yet one more novel phenomenon arising in the scattered near field of medium sized objects comprising high refractive index materials, which allows the generation of colossal local magnetic fields. In particular, we show that GHz radiation illuminating a high refractive index ceramic sphere creates instant magnetic near-fields comparable to those in neutron stars, opening up a new paradigm for creation of giant magnetic fields on the millimeter's scale.
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Affiliation(s)
- B Luk Yanchuk
- Faculty of Physics, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia, 119991.
| | - L M Vasilyak
- Joint Institute for High Temperatures, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia, 125412
| | - V Ya Pecherkin
- Joint Institute for High Temperatures, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia, 125412
| | - S P Vetchinin
- Joint Institute for High Temperatures, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia, 125412
| | - V E Fortov
- Joint Institute for High Temperatures, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia, 125412
| | - Z B Wang
- School of Computer Science and Electronic Engineering, Bangor University, Bangor, LL57 1UT, Gwynedd, UK
| | - R Paniagua-Domínguez
- Institute of Materials Research and Engineering, A*STAR (Agency for Science, Technology and Research), Singapore, 138634, Singapore
| | - A A Fedyanin
- Faculty of Physics, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia, 119991
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4
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Sampath A, Davoine X, Corde S, Gremillet L, Gilljohann M, Sangal M, Keitel CH, Ariniello R, Cary J, Ekerfelt H, Emma C, Fiuza F, Fujii H, Hogan M, Joshi C, Knetsch A, Kononenko O, Lee V, Litos M, Marsh K, Nie Z, O'Shea B, Peterson JR, Claveria PSM, Storey D, Wu Y, Xu X, Zhang C, Tamburini M. Extremely Dense Gamma-Ray Pulses in Electron Beam-Multifoil Collisions. PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS 2021; 126:064801. [PMID: 33635713 DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.126.064801] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2020] [Revised: 12/18/2020] [Accepted: 01/08/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Sources of high-energy photons have important applications in almost all areas of research. However, the photon flux and intensity of existing sources is strongly limited for photon energies above a few hundred keV. Here we show that a high-current ultrarelativistic electron beam interacting with multiple submicrometer-thick conducting foils can undergo strong self-focusing accompanied by efficient emission of gamma-ray synchrotron photons. Physically, self-focusing and high-energy photon emission originate from the beam interaction with the near-field transition radiation accompanying the beam-foil collision. This near field radiation is of amplitude comparable with the beam self-field, and can be strong enough that a single emitted photon can carry away a significant fraction of the emitting electron energy. After beam collision with multiple foils, femtosecond collimated electron and photon beams with number density exceeding that of a solid are obtained. The relative simplicity, unique properties, and high efficiency of this gamma-ray source open up new opportunities for both applied and fundamental research including laserless investigations of strong-field QED processes with a single electron beam.
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Affiliation(s)
- Archana Sampath
- Max-Planck-Institut für Kernphysik, Saupfercheckweg 1, D-69117 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Xavier Davoine
- CEA, DAM, DIF, 91297 Arpajon, France
- Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, LMCE, 91680 Bruyères-le-Châtel, France
| | - Sébastien Corde
- LOA, ENSTA Paris, CNRS, Ecole Polytechnique, Institut Polytechnique de Paris, 91762 Palaiseau, France
| | - Laurent Gremillet
- CEA, DAM, DIF, 91297 Arpajon, France
- Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, LMCE, 91680 Bruyères-le-Châtel, France
| | - Max Gilljohann
- LOA, ENSTA Paris, CNRS, Ecole Polytechnique, Institut Polytechnique de Paris, 91762 Palaiseau, France
| | - Maitreyi Sangal
- 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
| | - Robert Ariniello
- University of Colorado Boulder, Department of Physics, Center for Integrated Plasma Studies, Boulder, Colorado 80309, USA
| | - John Cary
- University of Colorado Boulder, Department of Physics, Center for Integrated Plasma Studies, Boulder, Colorado 80309, USA
| | - Henrik Ekerfelt
- SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Menlo Park, California 94025, USA
| | - Claudio Emma
- SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Menlo Park, California 94025, USA
| | - Frederico Fiuza
- SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Menlo Park, California 94025, USA
| | - Hiroki Fujii
- University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA
| | - Mark Hogan
- SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Menlo Park, California 94025, USA
| | - Chan Joshi
- University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA
| | - Alexander Knetsch
- LOA, ENSTA Paris, CNRS, Ecole Polytechnique, Institut Polytechnique de Paris, 91762 Palaiseau, France
| | - Olena Kononenko
- LOA, ENSTA Paris, CNRS, Ecole Polytechnique, Institut Polytechnique de Paris, 91762 Palaiseau, France
| | - Valentina Lee
- University of Colorado Boulder, Department of Physics, Center for Integrated Plasma Studies, Boulder, Colorado 80309, USA
| | - Mike Litos
- University of Colorado Boulder, Department of Physics, Center for Integrated Plasma Studies, Boulder, Colorado 80309, USA
| | - Kenneth Marsh
- University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA
| | - Zan Nie
- University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA
| | - Brendan O'Shea
- SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Menlo Park, California 94025, USA
| | - J Ryan Peterson
- SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Menlo Park, California 94025, USA
- Stanford University, Physics Department, Stanford, California 94305, USA
| | - Pablo San Miguel Claveria
- LOA, ENSTA Paris, CNRS, Ecole Polytechnique, Institut Polytechnique de Paris, 91762 Palaiseau, France
| | - Doug Storey
- SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Menlo Park, California 94025, USA
| | - Yipeng Wu
- University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA
| | - Xinlu Xu
- SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Menlo Park, California 94025, USA
| | - Chaojie Zhang
- University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA
| | - Matteo Tamburini
- Max-Planck-Institut für Kernphysik, Saupfercheckweg 1, D-69117 Heidelberg, Germany
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5
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Pelletier G, Gremillet L, Vanthieghem A, Lemoine M. Physics of relativistic collisionless shocks: The scattering-center frame. Phys Rev E 2019; 100:013205. [PMID: 31499760 DOI: 10.1103/physreve.100.013205] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2019] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
In this first paper of a series dedicated to the microphysics of unmagnetized, relativistic collisionless pair shocks, we discuss the physics of the Weibel-type transverse current filamentation instability that develops in the shock precursor, through the interaction of an ultrarelativistic suprathermal particle beam with the background plasma. We introduce in particular the notion of the "Weibel frame," or scattering center frame, in which the microturbulence is of mostly magnetic nature. We calculate the properties of this frame, using first a kinetic formulation of the linear phase of the instability, relying on Maxwell-Jüttner distribution functions, then using a quasistatic model of the nonlinear stage of the instability. Both methods show that (i) the Weibel frame moves at subrelativistic velocities relative to the background plasma, therefore at relativistic velocities relative to the shock front; (ii) the velocity of the Weibel frame relative to the background plasma scales with ξ_{b}, i.e., the pressure of the suprathermal particle beam in units of the momentum flux density incoming into the shock; and (iii) the Weibel frame moves slightly less fast than the background plasma relative to the shock front. Our theoretical results are found to be in satisfactory agreement with the measurements carried out in dedicated large-scale 2D3V particle-in-cell simulations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guy Pelletier
- Université Grenoble Alpes, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique-INSU, Institut de Planétologie et d'Astrophysique de Grenoble, F-38041 Grenoble, France
| | | | - Arno Vanthieghem
- Institut d'Astrophysique de Paris, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique-Sorbonne Université, 98 bis boulevard Arago, F-75014 Paris, France.,Sorbonne Universités, Institut Lagrange de Paris, 98 bis boulevard Arago, F-75014 Paris, France
| | - Martin Lemoine
- Institut d'Astrophysique de Paris, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique-Sorbonne Université, 98 bis boulevard Arago, F-75014 Paris, France
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6
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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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7
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Capdessus R, King M, Del Sorbo D, Duff M, Ridgers CP, McKenna P. Relativistic Doppler-boosted γ-rays in High Fields. Sci Rep 2018; 8:9155. [PMID: 29904181 PMCID: PMC6002516 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-27122-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2018] [Accepted: 05/24/2018] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
The relativistic Doppler effect is one of the most famous implications of the principles of special relativity and is intrinsic to moving radiation sources, relativistic optics and many astrophysical phenomena. It occurs in the case of a plasma sail accelerated to relativistic velocities by an external driver, such as an ultra-intense laser pulse. Here we show that the relativistic Doppler effect on the high energy synchrotron photon emission (~10 MeV), strongly depends on two intrinsic properties of the plasma (charge state and ion mass) and the transverse extent of the driver. When the moving plasma becomes relativistically transparent to the driver, we show that the γ-ray emission is Doppler-boosted and the angular emission decreases; optimal for the highest charge-to-mass ratio ion species (i.e. a hydrogen plasma). This provides new fundamental insight into the generation of γ-rays in extreme conditions and informs related experiments using multi-petawatt laser facilities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Remi Capdessus
- SUPA Department of Physics, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, G4 0NG, UK.
| | - Martin King
- SUPA Department of Physics, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, G4 0NG, UK
| | - Dario Del Sorbo
- York Plasma Institute, Department of Physics, University of York, York, YO10 5DQ, UK
| | - Matthew Duff
- SUPA Department of Physics, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, G4 0NG, UK
| | - Christopher P Ridgers
- York Plasma Institute, Department of Physics, University of York, York, YO10 5DQ, UK
| | - Paul McKenna
- SUPA Department of Physics, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, G4 0NG, UK.
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8
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Niel F, Riconda C, Amiranoff F, Duclous R, Grech M. From quantum to classical modeling of radiation reaction: A focus on stochasticity effects. Phys Rev E 2018; 97:043209. [PMID: 29758698 DOI: 10.1103/physreve.97.043209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2017] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Radiation reaction in the interaction of ultrarelativistic electrons with a strong external electromagnetic field is investigated using a kinetic approach in the nonlinear moderately quantum regime. Three complementary descriptions are discussed considering arbitrary geometries of interaction: a deterministic one relying on the quantum-corrected radiation reaction force in the Landau and Lifschitz (LL) form, a linear Boltzmann equation for the electron distribution function, and a Fokker-Planck (FP) expansion in the limit where the emitted photon energies are small with respect to that of the emitting electrons. The latter description is equivalent to a stochastic differential equation where the effect of the radiation reaction appears in the form of the deterministic term corresponding to the quantum-corrected LL friction force, and by a diffusion term accounting for the stochastic nature of photon emission. By studying the evolution of the energy moments of the electron distribution function with the three models, we are able to show that all three descriptions provide similar predictions on the temporal evolution of the average energy of an electron population in various physical situations of interest, even for large values of the quantum parameter χ. The FP and full linear Boltzmann descriptions also allow us to correctly describe the evolution of the energy variance (second-order moment) of the distribution function, while higher-order moments are in general correctly captured with the full linear Boltzmann description only. A general criterion for the limit of validity of each description is proposed, as well as a numerical scheme for the inclusion of the FP description in particle-in-cell codes. This work, not limited to the configuration of a monoenergetic electron beam colliding with a laser pulse, allows further insight into the relative importance of various effects of radiation reaction and in particular of the discrete and stochastic nature of high-energy photon emission and its back-reaction in the deformation of the particle distribution function.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Niel
- LULI, UPMC Université Paris 06: Sorbonne Universités, CNRS, École Polytechnique, CEA, Université Paris-Saclay, F-75252 Paris cedex 05, France
| | - C Riconda
- LULI, UPMC Université Paris 06: Sorbonne Universités, CNRS, École Polytechnique, CEA, Université Paris-Saclay, F-75252 Paris cedex 05, France
| | - F Amiranoff
- LULI, UPMC Université Paris 06: Sorbonne Universités, CNRS, École Polytechnique, CEA, Université Paris-Saclay, F-75252 Paris cedex 05, France
| | - R Duclous
- CEA, DAM, DIF, F-91297 Arpajon, France
| | - M Grech
- LULI, CNRS, École Polytechnique, CEA, Université Paris-Saclay, UPMC Université Paris 06: Sorbonne Universités, F-91128 Palaiseau cedex, France
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9
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Multi-GeV electron-positron beam generation from laser-electron scattering. Sci Rep 2018; 8:4702. [PMID: 29549367 PMCID: PMC5856856 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-23126-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2017] [Accepted: 03/05/2018] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
The new generation of laser facilities is expected to deliver short (10 fs–100 fs) laser pulses with 10–100 PW of peak power. This opens an opportunity to study matter at extreme intensities in the laboratory and provides access to new physics. Here we propose to scatter GeV-class electron beams from laser-plasma accelerators with a multi-PW laser at normal incidence. In this configuration, one can both create and accelerate electron-positron pairs. The new particles are generated in the laser focus and gain relativistic momentum in the direction of laser propagation. Short focal length is an advantage, as it allows the particles to be ejected from the focal region with a net energy gain in vacuum. Electron-positron beams obtained in this setup have a low divergence, are quasi-neutral and spatially separated from the initial electron beam. The pairs attain multi-GeV energies which are not limited by the maximum energy of the initial electron beam. We present an analytical model for the expected energy cutoff, supported by 2D and 3D particle-in-cell simulations. The experimental implications, such as the sensitivity to temporal synchronisation and laser duration is assessed to provide guidance for the future experiments.
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10
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Wang WM, Gibbon P, Sheng ZM, Li YT, Zhang J. Laser opacity in underdense preplasma of solid targets due to quantum electrodynamics effects. Phys Rev E 2018; 96:013201. [PMID: 29347155 DOI: 10.1103/physreve.96.013201] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2016] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
We investigate how next-generation laser pulses at 10-200PW interact with a solid target in the presence of a relativistically underdense preplasma produced by amplified spontaneous emission (ASE). Laser hole boring and relativistic transparency are strongly restrained due to the generation of electron-positron pairs and γ-ray photons via quantum electrodynamics (QED) processes. A pair plasma with a density above the initial preplasma density is formed, counteracting the electron-free channel produced by hole boring. This pair-dominated plasma can block laser transport and trigger an avalanchelike QED cascade, efficiently transferring the laser energy to the photons. This renders a 1-μm scale-length, underdense preplasma completely opaque to laser pulses at this power level. The QED-induced opacity therefore sets much higher contrast requirements for such a pulse in solid-target experiments than expected by classical plasma physics. Our simulations show, for example, that proton acceleration from the rear of a solid with a preplasma would be strongly impaired.
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Affiliation(s)
- W-M Wang
- Beijing National Laboratory for Condensed Matter Physics, Institute of Physics, CAS, Beijing 100190, China.,Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Imaging Technology, Department of Physics, Capital Normal University, Beijing 100048, China.,IFSA Collaborative Innovation Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - P Gibbon
- Forschungzentrum Jülich GmbH, Institute for Advanced Simulation, Jülich Supercomputing Centre, D-52425 Jülich, Germany.,Centre for Mathematical Plasma Astrophysics, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Z-M Sheng
- IFSA Collaborative Innovation Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China.,SUPA, Department of Physics, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow G4 0NG, United Kingdom.,Key Laboratory for Laser Plasmas (MoE) and Department of Physics and Astronomy, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Y-T Li
- Beijing National Laboratory for Condensed Matter Physics, Institute of Physics, CAS, Beijing 100190, China.,IFSA Collaborative Innovation Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China.,School of Physical Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - J Zhang
- IFSA Collaborative Innovation Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China.,Key Laboratory for Laser Plasmas (MoE) and Department of Physics and Astronomy, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
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11
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Grassi A, Grech M, Amiranoff F, Macchi A, Riconda C. Radiation-pressure-driven ion Weibel instability and collisionless shocks. Phys Rev E 2017; 96:033204. [PMID: 29347053 DOI: 10.1103/physreve.96.033204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
The Weibel instability from counterstreaming plasma flows is a basic process highly relevant for collisionless shock formation in astrophysics. In this paper we investigate, via two- and three-dimensional simulations, suitable configurations for laboratory investigations of the ion Weibel instability (IWI) driven by a fast quasineutral plasma flow launched into the target via the radiation pressure of an ultra-high-intensity laser pulse ("hole-boring" process). The use of S-polarized light at oblique incidence is found to be an optimal configuration for driving IWI, as it prevents the development of surface rippling observed at normal incidence that would lead to strong electron heating and would favor competing instabilities. Conditions for the evolution of IWI into a collisionless shock are also investigated.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Grassi
- LULI, Sorbonne Université, CNRS, Ecole Polytechnique, CEA, Université Paris-Saclay, Paris, France
- Dipartimento di Fisica Enrico Fermi, Università di Pisa, Largo Bruno Pontecorvo 3, I-56127 Pisa, Italy
- Istituto Nazionale di Ottica, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR/INO), u.o.s. Adriano Gozzini, I-56127 Pisa, Italy
| | - M Grech
- LULI, CNRS, Ecole Polytechnique, CEA, Université Paris-Saclay, Sorbonne Université, Palaiseau, France
| | - F Amiranoff
- LULI, Sorbonne Université, CNRS, Ecole Polytechnique, CEA, Université Paris-Saclay, Paris, France
| | - A Macchi
- Dipartimento di Fisica Enrico Fermi, Università di Pisa, Largo Bruno Pontecorvo 3, I-56127 Pisa, Italy
- Istituto Nazionale di Ottica, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR/INO), u.o.s. Adriano Gozzini, I-56127 Pisa, Italy
| | - C Riconda
- LULI, Sorbonne Université, CNRS, Ecole Polytechnique, CEA, Université Paris-Saclay, Paris, France
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12
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Grassi A, Grech M, Amiranoff F, Pegoraro F, Macchi A, Riconda C. Electron Weibel instability in relativistic counterstreaming plasmas with flow-aligned external magnetic fields. Phys Rev E 2017; 95:023203. [PMID: 28297911 DOI: 10.1103/physreve.95.023203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2016] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
The Weibel instability driven by two symmetric counterstreaming relativistic electron plasmas, also referred to as current-filamentation instability, is studied in a constant and uniform external magnetic field aligned with the plasma flows. Both the linear and nonlinear stages of the instability are investigated using analytical modeling and particle-in-cell simulations. While previous studies have already described the stabilizing effect of the magnetic field, we show here that the saturation stage is only weakly affected. The different mechanisms responsible for the saturation are discussed in detail in the relativistic cold fluid framework considering a single unstable mode. The application of an external field leads to a slight increase of the saturation level for large wavelengths, while it does not affect the small wavelengths. Multimode and temperature effects are then investigated. While at high temperature the saturation level is independent of the external magnetic field, at low but finite temperature the competition between different modes in the presence of an external magnetic field leads to a saturation level lower with respect to the unmagnetized case.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Grassi
- LULI, UPMC Université Paris 06: Sorbonne Universités, CNRS, Ecole Polytechnique, CEA, Université Paris-Saclay, F-75252 Paris Cedex 05, France.,Dipartimento di Fisica Enrico Fermi, Università di Pisa, Largo Bruno Pontecorvo 3, I-56127 Pisa, Italy.,Istituto Nazionale di Ottica, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR/INO), u.o.s. Adriano Gozzini, I-56127 Pisa, Italy
| | - M Grech
- LULI, CNRS, Ecole Polytechnique, CEA, Université Paris-Saclay, UPMC Université Paris 06: Sorbonne Universités, F-91128 Palaiseau Cedex, France
| | - F Amiranoff
- LULI, CNRS, Ecole Polytechnique, CEA, Université Paris-Saclay, UPMC Université Paris 06: Sorbonne Universités, F-91128 Palaiseau Cedex, France
| | - F Pegoraro
- Dipartimento di Fisica Enrico Fermi, Università di Pisa, Largo Bruno Pontecorvo 3, I-56127 Pisa, Italy.,Istituto Nazionale di Ottica, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR/INO), u.o.s. Adriano Gozzini, I-56127 Pisa, Italy
| | - A Macchi
- Dipartimento di Fisica Enrico Fermi, Università di Pisa, Largo Bruno Pontecorvo 3, I-56127 Pisa, Italy.,Istituto Nazionale di Ottica, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR/INO), u.o.s. Adriano Gozzini, I-56127 Pisa, Italy
| | - C Riconda
- LULI, UPMC Université Paris 06: Sorbonne Universités, CNRS, Ecole Polytechnique, CEA, Université Paris-Saclay, F-75252 Paris Cedex 05, France
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13
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Gong Z, Hu RH, Shou YR, Qiao B, Chen CE, He XT, Bulanov SS, Esirkepov TZ, Bulanov SV, Yan XQ. High-efficiency γ-ray flash generation via multiple-laser scattering in ponderomotive potential well. Phys Rev E 2017; 95:013210. [PMID: 28208321 DOI: 10.1103/physreve.95.013210] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
γ-ray flash generation in near-critical-density target irradiated by four symmetrical colliding laser pulses is numerically investigated. With peak intensities about 10^{23} W/cm^{2}, the laser pulses boost electron energy through direct laser acceleration, while pushing them inward with the ponderomotive force. After backscattering with counterpropagating laser, the accelerated electron is trapped in the electromagnetic standing waves or the ponderomotive potential well created by the coherent overlapping of the laser pulses, and emits γ-ray photons in a multiple-laser-scattering regime, where electrons act as a medium transferring energy from the laser to γ rays in the ponderomotive potential valley.
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Affiliation(s)
- Z Gong
- State Key Laboratory of Nuclear Physics and Technology, and Key Laboratory of HEDP of the Ministry of Education, CAPT, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - R H Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Nuclear Physics and Technology, and Key Laboratory of HEDP of the Ministry of Education, CAPT, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Y R Shou
- State Key Laboratory of Nuclear Physics and Technology, and Key Laboratory of HEDP of the Ministry of Education, CAPT, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - B Qiao
- State Key Laboratory of Nuclear Physics and Technology, and Key Laboratory of HEDP of the Ministry of Education, CAPT, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - C E Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Nuclear Physics and Technology, and Key Laboratory of HEDP of the Ministry of Education, CAPT, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - X T He
- State Key Laboratory of Nuclear Physics and Technology, and Key Laboratory of HEDP of the Ministry of Education, CAPT, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - S S Bulanov
- Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California 94720, USA
| | - T Zh Esirkepov
- QuBS, Japan Atomic Energy Agency, Kizugawa, Kyoto 619-0215, Japan
| | - S V Bulanov
- QuBS, Japan Atomic Energy Agency, Kizugawa, Kyoto 619-0215, Japan
- A. M. Prokhorov Institute of General Physics RAS, Moscow 119991, Russia
| | - X Q Yan
- State Key Laboratory of Nuclear Physics and Technology, and Key Laboratory of HEDP of the Ministry of Education, CAPT, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Extreme Optics, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, Shanxi 030006, China
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14
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Dense GeV electron-positron pairs generated by lasers in near-critical-density plasmas. Nat Commun 2016; 7:13686. [PMID: 27966530 PMCID: PMC5171869 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms13686] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2016] [Accepted: 10/25/2016] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Pair production can be triggered by high-intensity lasers via the Breit–Wheeler process. However, the straightforward laser–laser colliding for copious numbers of pair creation requires light intensities several orders of magnitude higher than possible with the ongoing laser facilities. Despite the numerous proposed approaches, creating high-energy-density pair plasmas in laboratories is still challenging. Here we present an all-optical scheme for overdense pair production by two counter-propagating lasers irradiating near-critical-density plasmas at only ∼1022 W cm−2. In this scheme, bright γ-rays are generated by radiation-trapped electrons oscillating in the laser fields. The dense γ-photons then collide with the focused counter-propagating lasers to initiate the multi-photon Breit–Wheeler process. Particle-in-cell simulations indicate that one may generate a high-yield (1.05 × 1011) overdense (4 × 1022 cm−3) GeV positron beam using 10 PW scale lasers. Such a bright pair source has many practical applications and could be basis for future compact high-luminosity electron–positron colliders.
High power lasers can produce electron-positron pairs at GeV energies, but doing so through laser–laser collisions would require exceedingly high intensities. Here the authors present an all-optical scheme for pair production by irradiating near-critical-density plasmas with two counter-propagating lasers.
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