Nonlinear saturation of the Weibel instability
The growth and saturation of magnetic fields due to the Weibel instability (WI) have important implications for laboratory and astrophysical plasmas, and this has drawn significant interest recently. Since the WI can generate a large magnetic field from no initial field, the maximum magnitudes achieved can have significant consequences for a number of applications. Hence, an understanding of the detailed dynamics driving the nonlinear saturation of the WI is important. This work considers the nonlinear saturation of the WI when counter-streaming populations of initially unmagnetized electrons are perturbed by a magnetic field oriented perpendicular to the direction of streaming. Previous works have found magnetic trapping to be important and connected electron skin depth spatial scales to the nonlinear saturation of the WI. The results presented in this work are consistent with these findings for a high-temperature case. However, using a high-order continuum kinetic simulation tool, this work demonstrates that when the electron populations are colder, a significant electrostatic potential develops that works with the magnetic field to create potential wells. The electrostatic field develops due to transverse flows induced by the WI and in some cases is strengthened by a secondary instability. This field plays a key role in saturation of the WI for colder populations. In conclusion, the role of the electrostatic potential in Weibel instability saturation has not been studied in detail previously.
- Research Organization:
- Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL), Princeton, NJ (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- Grant/Contract Number:
- AC02-09CH11466; FA9550-15-1-0193
- OSTI ID:
- 1420769
- Alternate ID(s):
- OSTI ID: 1420637
- Journal Information:
- Physics of Plasmas, Vol. 24, Issue 11; ISSN 1070-664X
- Publisher:
- American Institute of Physics (AIP)Copyright Statement
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Web of Science
Erratum: “Nonlinear saturation of the Weibel instability” [Phys. Plasmas 24 , 112116 (2017)]
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journal | April 2019 |
A survey of fluid and kinetic instabilities relevant to space and laboratory plasmas
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journal | February 2019 |
Distinguishing and diagnosing the spontaneous electric and magnetic fields of Weibel instability through proton radiography
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journal | December 2019 |
Temperature-dependent Saturation of Weibel-type Instabilities in Counter-streaming Plasmas
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journal | February 2019 |
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