1
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Yuan D, Lei Z, Wei H, Zhang Z, Zhong J, Li Y, Ping Y, Zhang Y, Li Y, Wang F, Liang G, Qiao B, Fu C, Liu H, Zhang P, Zhu J, Zhao G, Zhang J. Electron stochastic acceleration in laboratory-produced kinetic turbulent plasmas. Nat Commun 2024; 15:5897. [PMID: 39003257 PMCID: PMC11246523 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-50085-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2023] [Accepted: 06/28/2024] [Indexed: 07/15/2024] Open
Abstract
The origin of energetic charged particles in universe remains an unresolved issue. Astronomical observations combined with simulations have provided insights into particle acceleration mechanisms, including magnetic reconnection acceleration, shock acceleration, and stochastic acceleration. Recent experiments have also confirmed that electrons can be accelerated through processes such as magnetic reconnection and collisionless shock formation. However, laboratory identifying stochastic acceleration as a feasible mechanism is still a challenge, particularly in the creation of collision-free turbulent plasmas. Here, we present experimental results demonstrating kinetic turbulence with a typical spectrum k-2.9 originating from Weibel instability. Energetic electrons exhibiting a power-law distribution are clearly observed. Simulations further reveal that thermal electrons undergo stochastic acceleration through collisions with multiple magnetic islands-like structures within the turbulent region. This study sheds light on a critical transition period during supernova explosion, where kinetic turbulences originating from Weibel instability emerge prior to collisionless shock formation. Our results suggest that electrons undergo stochastic acceleration during this transition phase.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dawei Yuan
- Key Laboratory of Optical Astronomy, National Astronomical Observatories, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, P. R. China
- Institute of Frontiers in Astronomy and Astrophysics of Beijing Normal University, Beijing, P. R. China
| | - Zhu Lei
- Institute of Applied Physics and Computational Mathematics, Beijing, P. R. China
- School of Physics, Peking University, Beijing, P. R. China
- Center for Applied Physics and Technology, Peking University, Beijing, P. R. China
| | - Huigang Wei
- Key Laboratory of Optical Astronomy, National Astronomical Observatories, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, P. R. China
| | - Zhe Zhang
- National Laboratory for Condensed Matter Physics, Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, P. R. China
- Collaborative Innovation Center of IFSA, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, P. R. China
- Songshan Lake Materials Laboratory, Dongguan, Guangdong, P. R. China
| | - Jiayong Zhong
- Institute of Frontiers in Astronomy and Astrophysics of Beijing Normal University, Beijing, P. R. China
- Department of Astronomy, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, P. R. China
| | - Yifei Li
- National Laboratory for Condensed Matter Physics, Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, P. R. China
| | - Yongli Ping
- Department of Astronomy, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, P. R. China
| | - Yihang Zhang
- National Laboratory for Condensed Matter Physics, Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, P. R. China
| | - Yutong Li
- National Laboratory for Condensed Matter Physics, Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, P. R. China.
- Collaborative Innovation Center of IFSA, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, P. R. China.
- Songshan Lake Materials Laboratory, Dongguan, Guangdong, P. R. China.
- School of Physical Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, P. R. China.
| | - Feilu Wang
- Key Laboratory of Optical Astronomy, National Astronomical Observatories, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, P. R. China
- School of Astronomy and Space Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, P. R. China
| | - Guiyun Liang
- Key Laboratory of Optical Astronomy, National Astronomical Observatories, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, P. R. China
- Institute of Frontiers in Astronomy and Astrophysics of Beijing Normal University, Beijing, P. R. China
| | - Bin Qiao
- School of Physics, Peking University, Beijing, P. R. China.
- Center for Applied Physics and Technology, Peking University, Beijing, P. R. China.
- Frontiers Science Center for Nano-optoelectronic, Peking University, Beijing, P. R. China.
| | - Changbo Fu
- Key Laboratory of Nuclear Physics and Ion-Beam Application (MoE), Institute of Modern Physics, Fudan University, Shanghai, P. R. China
| | - Huiya Liu
- National Laboratory on High Power Laser and Physics, Shanghai Institute of Optics and Fine Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, P. R. China
| | - Panzheng Zhang
- National Laboratory on High Power Laser and Physics, Shanghai Institute of Optics and Fine Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, P. R. China
| | - Jianqiang Zhu
- National Laboratory on High Power Laser and Physics, Shanghai Institute of Optics and Fine Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, P. R. China
| | - Gang Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Optical Astronomy, National Astronomical Observatories, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, P. R. China.
- School of Astronomy and Space Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, P. R. China.
| | - Jie Zhang
- Collaborative Innovation Center of IFSA, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, P. R. China.
- Tsung-Dao Lee Institute, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, P. R. China.
- Key Laboratory for Laser Plasmas (MoE), Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, P. R. China.
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, P. R. China.
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2
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Liu P, Wu D, Hu TX, Yuan DW, Zhao G, Sheng ZM, He XT, Zhang J. Ion Kinetics and Neutron Generation Associated with Electromagnetic Turbulence in Laboratory-Scale Counterstreaming Plasmas. PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS 2024; 132:155103. [PMID: 38682966 DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.132.155103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2023] [Revised: 12/18/2023] [Accepted: 03/12/2024] [Indexed: 05/01/2024]
Abstract
Electromagnetic turbulence and ion kinetics in counterstreaming plasmas hold great significance in laboratory astrophysics, such as turbulence field amplification and particle energization. Here, we quantitatively demonstrate for the first time how electromagnetic turbulence affects ion kinetics under achievable laboratory conditions (millimeter-scale interpenetrating plasmas with initial velocity of 2000 km/s, density of 4×10^{19} cm^{-3}, and temperature of 100 eV) utilizing a recently developed high-order implicit particle-in-cell code without scaling transformation. It is found that the electromagnetic turbulence is driven by ion two-stream and filamentation instabilities. For the magnetized scenarios where an applied magnetic field of tens of Tesla is perpendicular to plasma flows, the growth rates of instabilities increase with the strengthening of applied magnetic field, which therefore leads to a significant enhancement of turbulence fields. Under the competition between the stochastic acceleration due to electromagnetic turbulence and collisional thermalization, ion distribution function shows a distinct super-Gaussian shape, and the ion kinetics are manifested in neutron yields and spectra. Our results have well explained the recent unmagnetized experimental observations, and the findings of magnetized scenario can be verified by current astrophysical experiments.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Liu
- Institute for Fusion Theory and Simulation, School of Physics, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - D Wu
- Key Laboratory for Laser Plasmas and School of Physics and Astronomy, Collaborative Innovation Center of IFSA (CICIFSA), Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - T X Hu
- Institute for Fusion Theory and Simulation, School of Physics, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
- Key Laboratory for Laser Plasmas and School of Physics and Astronomy, Collaborative Innovation Center of IFSA (CICIFSA), Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - D W Yuan
- Key Laboratory of Optical Astronomy, National Astronomical Observatories, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100012, China
| | - G Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Optical Astronomy, National Astronomical Observatories, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100012, China
| | - Z M Sheng
- Institute for Fusion Theory and Simulation, School of Physics, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - X T He
- Institute for Fusion Theory and Simulation, School of Physics, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - J Zhang
- Key Laboratory for Laser Plasmas and School of Physics and Astronomy, Collaborative Innovation Center of IFSA (CICIFSA), Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
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3
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Zhao Z, He S, An H, Lei Z, Xie Y, Yuan W, Jiao J, Zhou K, Zhang Y, Ye J, Xie Z, Xiong J, Fang Z, He X, Wang W, Zhou W, Zhang B, Zhu S, Qiao B. Laboratory evidence of Weibel magnetogenesis driven by temperature gradient using three-dimensional synchronous proton radiography. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2024; 10:eadk5229. [PMID: 38569034 PMCID: PMC10990267 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adk5229] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2023] [Accepted: 02/27/2024] [Indexed: 04/05/2024]
Abstract
The origin of the cosmic magnetic field remains an unsolved mystery, relying not only on specific dynamo processes but also on the seed field to be amplified. Recently, the diffuse radio emission and Faraday rotation observations reveal that there has been a microgauss-level magnetic field in intracluster medium in the early universe, which places strong constraints on the strength of the initial field and implies the underlying kinetic effects; the commonly believed Biermann battery can only provide extremely weak seed of 10-21 G. Here, we present evidence for the spontaneous Weibel-type magnetogenesis in laser-produced weakly collisional plasma with the three-dimensional synchronous proton radiography, where the distribution anisotropy directly arises from the temperature gradient, even without the commonly considered interpenetrating plasmas or shear flows. This field can achieve sufficient strength and is sensitive to Coulomb collision. Our results demonstrate the importance of kinetics in magnetogenesis in weakly collisional astrophysical scenarios.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhonghai Zhao
- Center for Applied Physics and Technology, HEDPS, and SKLNPT, School of Physics, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Shukai He
- Science and Technology on Plasma Physics Laboratory, Research Center of Laser Fusion, China Academy of Engineering Physics (CAEP), Mianyang 621900, China
| | - Honghai An
- Shanghai Institute of Laser Plasma, CAEP, Shanghai 201800, China
| | - Zhu Lei
- Center for Applied Physics and Technology, HEDPS, and SKLNPT, School of Physics, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Yu Xie
- Center for Applied Physics and Technology, HEDPS, and SKLNPT, School of Physics, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Wenqiang Yuan
- Center for Applied Physics and Technology, HEDPS, and SKLNPT, School of Physics, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Jinlong Jiao
- Center for Applied Physics and Technology, HEDPS, and SKLNPT, School of Physics, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Kainan Zhou
- Science and Technology on Plasma Physics Laboratory, Research Center of Laser Fusion, China Academy of Engineering Physics (CAEP), Mianyang 621900, China
| | - Yuxue Zhang
- Science and Technology on Plasma Physics Laboratory, Research Center of Laser Fusion, China Academy of Engineering Physics (CAEP), Mianyang 621900, China
| | - Junjian Ye
- Shanghai Institute of Laser Plasma, CAEP, Shanghai 201800, China
| | - Zhiyong Xie
- Shanghai Institute of Laser Plasma, CAEP, Shanghai 201800, China
| | - Jun Xiong
- Shanghai Institute of Laser Plasma, CAEP, Shanghai 201800, China
| | - Zhiheng Fang
- Shanghai Institute of Laser Plasma, CAEP, Shanghai 201800, China
| | - Xiantu He
- Institute of Applied Physics and Computational Mathematics, Beijing 100094, China
| | - Wei Wang
- Shanghai Institute of Laser Plasma, CAEP, Shanghai 201800, China
| | - Weimin Zhou
- Science and Technology on Plasma Physics Laboratory, Research Center of Laser Fusion, China Academy of Engineering Physics (CAEP), Mianyang 621900, China
| | - Baohan Zhang
- Science and Technology on Plasma Physics Laboratory, Research Center of Laser Fusion, China Academy of Engineering Physics (CAEP), Mianyang 621900, China
| | - Shaoping Zhu
- Science and Technology on Plasma Physics Laboratory, Research Center of Laser Fusion, China Academy of Engineering Physics (CAEP), Mianyang 621900, China
- Institute of Applied Physics and Computational Mathematics, Beijing 100094, China
| | - Bin Qiao
- Center for Applied Physics and Technology, HEDPS, and SKLNPT, School of Physics, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
- Frontiers Science Center for Nano-optoelectronic, Peking University, Beijing 100094, China
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4
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Gong Z, Shen X, Hatsagortsyan KZ, Keitel CH. Electron Slingshot Acceleration in Relativistic Preturbulent Shocks Explored via Emitted Photon Polarization. PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS 2023; 131:225101. [PMID: 38101383 DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.131.225101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2023] [Revised: 09/23/2023] [Accepted: 10/23/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023]
Abstract
Transient electron dynamics near the interface of counterstreaming plasmas at the onset of a relativistic collisionless shock (RCS) is investigated using particle-in-cell simulations. We identify a slingshotlike injection process induced by the drifting electric field sustained by the flowing focus of backward-moving electrons, which is distinct from the well-known stochastic acceleration. The flowing focus signifies the plasma kinetic transition from a preturbulent laminar motion to a chaotic turbulence. We find a characteristic correlation between the electron dynamics in the slingshot acceleration and the photon emission features. In particular, the integrated radiation from the RCS exhibits a counterintuitive nonmonotonic dependence of the photon polarization degree on the photon energy, which originates from a polarization degradation of relatively high-energy photons emitted by the slingshot-injected electrons. Our results demonstrate the potential of photon polarization as an essential information source in exploring intricate transient dynamics in RCSs with relevance for Earth-based plasma and astrophysical scenarios.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zheng Gong
- Max-Planck-Institut für Kernphysik, Saupfercheckweg 1, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Xiaofei Shen
- 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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5
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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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6
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Manuel MJE, Adams MBP, Ghosh S, Beg FN, Bolaños S, Huntington CM, Jonnalagadda R, Kawahito D, Pollock BB, Remington BA, Ross JS, Ryutov DD, Sio H, Swadling GF, Tzeferacos P, Park HS. Experimental evidence of early-time saturation of the ion-Weibel instability in counterstreaming plasmas of CH, Al, and Cu. Phys Rev E 2022; 106:055205. [PMID: 36559494 DOI: 10.1103/physreve.106.055205] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2021] [Accepted: 10/13/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
The collisionless ion-Weibel instability is a leading candidate mechanism for the formation of collisionless shocks in many astrophysical systems, where the typical distance between particle collisions is much larger than the system size. Multiple laboratory experiments aimed at studying this process utilize laser-driven (I≳10^{15} W/cm^{2}), counterstreaming plasma flows (V≲2000 km/s) to create conditions unstable to Weibel-filamentation and growth. This technique intrinsically produces temporally varying plasma conditions at the midplane of the interaction where Weibel-driven B fields are generated and studied. Experiments discussed herein demonstrate robust formation of Weibel-driven B fields under multiple plasma conditions using CH, Al, and Cu plasmas. Linear theory based on benchmarked radiation-hydrodynamic FLASH calculations is compared with Fourier analyses of proton images taken ∼5-6 linear growth times into the evolution. The new analyses presented here indicate that the low-density, high-velocity plasma-conditions present during the first linear-growth time (∼300-500 ps) sets the spectral characteristics of Weibel filaments during the entire evolution. It is shown that the dominant wavelength (∼300μm) at saturation persists well into the nonlinear phase, consistent with theory under these experimental conditions. However, estimates of B-field strength, while difficult to determine accurately due to the path-integrated nature of proton imaging, are shown to be in the ∼10-30 T range, an order of magnitude above the expected saturation limit in homogenous plamas but consistent with enhanced B fields in the midplane due to temporally varying plasma conditions in experiments.
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Affiliation(s)
- M J-E Manuel
- General Atomics, San Diego, California 92121, USA
| | - M B P Adams
- University of Rochester, Rochester, New York 14627, USA
| | - S Ghosh
- University of California San Diego, San Diego, California 92093, USA
| | - F N Beg
- University of California San Diego, San Diego, California 92093, USA
| | - S Bolaños
- University of California San Diego, San Diego, California 92093, USA
| | - C M Huntington
- Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California 94450, USA
| | - R Jonnalagadda
- University of California San Diego, San Diego, California 92093, USA
| | - D Kawahito
- University of California San Diego, San Diego, California 92093, USA
| | - B B Pollock
- Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California 94450, USA
| | - B A Remington
- Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California 94450, USA
| | - J S Ross
- Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California 94450, USA
| | - D D Ryutov
- Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California 94450, USA
| | - H Sio
- Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California 94450, USA
| | - G F Swadling
- Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California 94450, USA
| | - P Tzeferacos
- University of Rochester, Rochester, New York 14627, USA
| | - H-S Park
- Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California 94450, USA
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7
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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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8
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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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9
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Lemoine M, Gremillet L, Pelletier G, Vanthieghem A. Physics of Weibel-Mediated Relativistic Collisionless Shocks. PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS 2019; 123:035101. [PMID: 31386457 DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.123.035101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2019] [Revised: 05/20/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
We develop a comprehensive theoretical model of relativistic collisionless pair shocks mediated by the current filamentation instability. We notably characterize the noninertial frame in which this instability is of a mostly magnetic nature, and describe at a microscopic level the deceleration and heating of the incoming background plasma through its collisionless interaction with the electromagnetic turbulence. Our model compares well to large-scale 2D3V particle-in-cell simulations, and provides an important touchstone for the phenomenology of such plasma systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Lemoine
- Institut d'Astrophysique de Paris, CNRS-Sorbonne Université, 98 bis boulevard Arago, F-75014 Paris, France
| | | | - Guy Pelletier
- Université Grenoble Alpes, CNRS-INSU, Institut de Planétologie et d'Astrophysique de Grenoble (IPAG), F-38041 Grenoble, France
| | - Arno Vanthieghem
- Institut d'Astrophysique de Paris, CNRS-Sorbonne Université, 98 bis boulevard Arago, F-75014 Paris, France
- Sorbonne Universités, Institut Lagrange de Paris (ILP), 98 bis boulevard Arago, F-75014 Paris, France
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10
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Ruyer C, Fiuza F. Disruption of Current Filaments and Isotropization of the Magnetic Field in Counterstreaming Plasmas. PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS 2018; 120:245002. [PMID: 29956944 DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.120.245002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
We study the stability of current filaments produced by the Weibel, or current filamentation, instability in weakly magnetized counterstreaming plasmas. It is shown that a resonance exists between the current-carrying ions and a longitudinal drift-kink mode that strongly deforms and eventually breaks the current filaments. Analytical estimates of the wavelength, growth rate, and saturation level of the resonant mode are derived and validated by three-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations. Furthermore, self-consistent simulations of counterstreaming plasmas indicate that this drift-kink mode is dominant in the slow down of the flows and in the isotropization of the magnetic field, playing an important role in the formation of collisionless shocks.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Ruyer
- High Energy Density Science Division, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Menlo Park, California 94025, USA
- CEA, DAM, DIF, F-91297 Arpajon, France
| | - F Fiuza
- High Energy Density Science Division, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Menlo Park, California 94025, USA
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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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