1
|
Stream instabilities in optical-field ionization of a monatomic dilute neutral gas in fully relativistic regime. Sci Rep 2023; 13:1301. [PMID: 36693855 PMCID: PMC9873945 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-26815-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2022] [Accepted: 12/20/2022] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Stream instabilities arising from anisotropic electron velocity distribution function (EVDF) are discussed in the optical-field ionization mechanism of a monatomic dilute gas by a circularly polarized laser beam in a fully relativistic regime. It is shown that a relativistically rotating electron beam is derived by a circularly polarized laser field with ([Formula: see text]). We show that the following ionization and before collisions thermalize the electrons, the plasma undergoes Buneman and Weibel instabilities. The Weibel and Buneman modes are co-propagating with k normal to the streaming direction. The theoretical results reveal that for the threshold of the relativistic regime ([Formula: see text]), instabilities are aperiodic and grow independently. However, by increasing the laser intensity for [Formula: see text], two instabilities are coupled. The coupling process increased the growth rate of Weibel instability, while the Buneman instability experienced a decrement in its growth rate. For more intense laser radiation, both instabilities are broken into different oscillatory and aperiodic modes.
Collapse
|
2
|
Mapping the self-generated magnetic fields due to thermal Weibel instability. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2022; 119:e2211713119. [PMID: 36469770 PMCID: PMC9897480 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2211713119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The origin of the seed magnetic field that is amplified by the galactic dynamo is an open question in plasma astrophysics. Aside from primordial sources and the Biermann battery mechanism, plasma instabilities have also been proposed as a possible source of seed magnetic fields. Among them, thermal Weibel instability driven by temperature anisotropy has attracted broad interests due to its ubiquity in both laboratory and astrophysical plasmas. However, this instability has been challenging to measure in a stationary terrestrial plasma because of the difficulty in preparing such a velocity distribution. Here, we use picosecond laser ionization of hydrogen gas to initialize such an electron distribution function. We record the 2D evolution of the magnetic field associated with the Weibel instability by imaging the deflections of a relativistic electron beam with a picosecond temporal duration and show that the measured [Formula: see text]-resolved growth rates of the instability validate kinetic theory. Concurrently, self-organization of microscopic plasma currents is observed to amplify the current modulation magnitude that converts up to ~1% of the plasma thermal energy into magnetic energy, thus supporting the notion that the magnetic field induced by the Weibel instability may be able to provide a seed for the galactic dynamo.
Collapse
|
3
|
Milder AL, Zielinski J, Katz J, Rozmus W, Edgell D, Hansen A, Sherlock M, Bruulsema C, Palastro JP, Turnbull D, Froula DH. Direct Measurement of the Return Current Instability in a Laser-Produced Plasma. PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS 2022; 129:115002. [PMID: 36154407 DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.129.115002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2022] [Revised: 07/22/2022] [Accepted: 08/11/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Measurements were made of the return current instability growth rate, demonstrating its concurrence with nonlocal transport. Thomson scattering was used to measure a maximum growth rate of 5.1×10^{9} Hz, which was 3 times less than classical Spitzer-Härm theory predicts. The measured plasma conditions indicate the heat flux was nonlocal, and Vlasov-Fokker-Planck simulations that account for nonlocality reproduce the measured growth rates. Furthermore, the threshold for the return current instability was measured (δ_{T}=0.017±0.002) to be in good agreement with previous theoretical models.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- A L Milder
- Laboratory for Laser Energetics, 250 East River Road, Rochester, New York 14623, USA
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York 14623, USA
- Department of Physics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2E1, Canada
| | - J Zielinski
- Department of Physics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2E1, Canada
| | - J Katz
- Laboratory for Laser Energetics, 250 East River Road, Rochester, New York 14623, USA
| | - W Rozmus
- Department of Physics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2E1, Canada
| | - D Edgell
- Laboratory for Laser Energetics, 250 East River Road, Rochester, New York 14623, USA
| | - A Hansen
- Laboratory for Laser Energetics, 250 East River Road, Rochester, New York 14623, USA
| | - M Sherlock
- Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, 7000 East Avenue, Livermore, California 94550, USA
| | - C Bruulsema
- Department of Physics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2E1, Canada
| | - J P Palastro
- Laboratory for Laser Energetics, 250 East River Road, Rochester, New York 14623, USA
| | - D Turnbull
- Laboratory for Laser Energetics, 250 East River Road, Rochester, New York 14623, USA
| | - D H Froula
- Laboratory for Laser Energetics, 250 East River Road, Rochester, New York 14623, USA
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York 14623, USA
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Silva T, Afeyan B, Silva LO. Weibel instability beyond bi-Maxwellian anisotropy. Phys Rev E 2021; 104:035201. [PMID: 34654095 DOI: 10.1103/physreve.104.035201] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2021] [Accepted: 08/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
The shape of the anisotropic velocity distribution function, beyond the realm of strict Maxwellians can play a significant role in determining the evolution of the Weibel instability dictating the dynamics of self-generated magnetic fields. For non-Maxwellian distribution functions, we show that the direction of the maximum growth rate wave vector changes with shape. We investigate different laser-plasma interaction model distributions which show that their Weibel generated magnetic fields may require closer scrutiny beyond the second moment (temperature) anisotropy ratio characterization.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- T Silva
- GoLP/Instituto de Plasmas e Fusão Nuclear, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, 1049-001 Lisbon, Portugal
| | - B Afeyan
- Polymath Research, Inc., 94566 Pleasanton, California, USA
| | - L O Silva
- GoLP/Instituto de Plasmas e Fusão Nuclear, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, 1049-001 Lisbon, Portugal
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Milder AL, Katz J, Boni R, Palastro JP, Sherlock M, Rozmus W, Froula DH. Measurements of Non-Maxwellian Electron Distribution Functions and Their Effect on Laser Heating. PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS 2021; 127:015001. [PMID: 34270287 DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.127.015001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2020] [Revised: 02/15/2021] [Accepted: 05/21/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Electron velocity distribution functions driven by inverse bremsstrahlung heating are measured to be non-Maxwellian using a novel angularly resolved Thomson-scattering instrument and the corresponding reduction of electrons at slow velocities results in a ∼40% measured reduction in inverse bremsstrahlung absorption. The distribution functions are measured to be super-Gaussian in the bulk (v/v_{th}<3) and Maxwellian in the tail (v/v_{th}>3) when the laser heating rate dominates over the electron-electron thermalization rate. Simulations with the particle code quartz show the shape of the tail is dictated by the uniformity of the laser heating.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- A L Milder
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York 14623, USA
- Laboratory for Laser Energetics, 250 East River Road, Rochester, New York 14623, USA
| | - J Katz
- Laboratory for Laser Energetics, 250 East River Road, Rochester, New York 14623, USA
| | - R Boni
- Laboratory for Laser Energetics, 250 East River Road, Rochester, New York 14623, USA
| | - J P Palastro
- Laboratory for Laser Energetics, 250 East River Road, Rochester, New York 14623, USA
| | - M Sherlock
- Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, 7000 East Avenue, Livermore, California 94550, USA
| | - W Rozmus
- Department of Physics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2E1, Canada
| | - D H Froula
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York 14623, USA
- Laboratory for Laser Energetics, 250 East River Road, Rochester, New York 14623, USA
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Mu J, Esirkepov TZ, Valenta P, Gu Y, Jeong TM, Pirozhkov AS, Koga JK, Kando M, Korn G, Bulanov SV. Relativistic flying forcibly oscillating reflective diffraction grating. Phys Rev E 2020; 102:053202. [PMID: 33327116 DOI: 10.1103/physreve.102.053202] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2020] [Accepted: 10/08/2020] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Relativistic flying forcibly oscillating reflective diffraction gratings are formed by an intense laser pulse (driver) in plasma. The mirror surface is an electron density singularity near the joining area of the wake wave cavity and the bow wave; it moves together with the driver laser pulse and undergoes forced oscillations induced by the field. A counterpropagating weak laser pulse (source) is incident at grazing angles, being efficiently reflected and enriched by harmonics. The reflected spectrum consists of the source pulse base frequency and its harmonics, multiplied by a large factor due to the double Doppler effect.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jie Mu
- ELI Beamlines Project, Institute of Physics of the ASCR, Na Slovance 2, 18221 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Timur Zh Esirkepov
- Kansai Photon Science Institute, National Institutes for Quantum and Radiological Science and Technology, 8-1-7 Umemidai, Kizugawa, Kyoto 619-0215, Japan
| | - Petr Valenta
- ELI Beamlines Project, Institute of Physics of the ASCR, Na Slovance 2, 18221 Prague, Czech Republic.,Faculty of Nuclear Sciences and Physical Engineering, Czech Technical University in Prague, Brehova 7, 11519 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Yanjun Gu
- ELI Beamlines Project, Institute of Physics of the ASCR, Na Slovance 2, 18221 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Tae Moon Jeong
- ELI Beamlines Project, Institute of Physics of the ASCR, Na Slovance 2, 18221 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Alexander S Pirozhkov
- Kansai Photon Science Institute, National Institutes for Quantum and Radiological Science and Technology, 8-1-7 Umemidai, Kizugawa, Kyoto 619-0215, Japan
| | - James K Koga
- Kansai Photon Science Institute, National Institutes for Quantum and Radiological Science and Technology, 8-1-7 Umemidai, Kizugawa, Kyoto 619-0215, Japan
| | - Masaki Kando
- Kansai Photon Science Institute, National Institutes for Quantum and Radiological Science and Technology, 8-1-7 Umemidai, Kizugawa, Kyoto 619-0215, Japan
| | - Georg Korn
- ELI Beamlines Project, Institute of Physics of the ASCR, Na Slovance 2, 18221 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Sergei V Bulanov
- ELI Beamlines Project, Institute of Physics of the ASCR, Na Slovance 2, 18221 Prague, Czech Republic.,Kansai Photon Science Institute, National Institutes for Quantum and Radiological Science and Technology, 8-1-7 Umemidai, Kizugawa, Kyoto 619-0215, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Zhang C, Hua J, Wu Y, Fang Y, Ma Y, Zhang T, Liu S, Peng B, He Y, Huang CK, Marsh KA, Mori WB, Lu W, Joshi C. Measurements of the Growth and Saturation of Electron Weibel Instability in Optical-Field Ionized Plasmas. PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS 2020; 125:255001. [PMID: 33416364 DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.125.255001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2020] [Revised: 11/05/2020] [Accepted: 11/16/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The temporal evolution of the magnetic field associated with electron thermal Weibel instability in optical-field ionized plasmas is measured using ultrashort (1.8 ps), relativistic (45 MeV) electron bunches from a linear accelerator. The self-generated magnetic fields are found to self-organize into a quasistatic structure consistent with a helicoid topology within a few picoseconds and such a structure lasts for tens of picoseconds in underdense plasmas. The measured growth rate agrees well with that predicted by the kinetic theory of plasmas taking into account collisions. Magnetic trapping is identified as the dominant saturation mechanism.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chaojie Zhang
- Department of Electrical Engineering, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA
| | - Jianfei Hua
- Department of Engineering Physics, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Yipeng Wu
- Department of Electrical Engineering, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA
| | - Yu Fang
- Department of Engineering Physics, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Yue Ma
- Department of Engineering Physics, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Tianliang Zhang
- Department of Engineering Physics, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Shuang Liu
- Department of Engineering Physics, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Bo Peng
- Department of Engineering Physics, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Yunxiao He
- Department of Engineering Physics, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Chen-Kang Huang
- Department of Electrical Engineering, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA
| | - Ken A Marsh
- Department of Electrical Engineering, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA
| | - Warren B Mori
- Department of Electrical Engineering, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA
| | - Wei Lu
- Department of Engineering Physics, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Chan Joshi
- Department of Electrical Engineering, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA
| |
Collapse
|