Direct Observations of Particle Dynamics in Magnetized Collisionless Shock Precursors in Laser-Produced Plasmas

Schaeffer, Derek B.; Fox, W.; Follett, R. K.; Fiksel, G.; Li, C. K.; Matteucci, J.; Bhattacharjee, A.; Germaschewski, K.

doi:10.1103/PhysRevLett.122.245001

Direct Observations of Particle Dynamics in Magnetized Collisionless Shock Precursors in Laser-Produced Plasmas

Journal Article · Fri Jun 21 00:00:00 EDT 2019 · Physical Review Letters

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.122.245001· OSTI ID:1543244

^[1]; Fox, W. ^[2]; Follett, R. K. ^[3]; Fiksel, G. ^[4]; Li, C. K. ^[5]; Matteucci, J. ^[6]; Bhattacharjee, A. ^[2]; Germaschewski, K. ^[7]

Princeton Univ., Princeton, NJ (United States); Princeton University
Princeton Univ., Princeton, NJ (United States); Princeton Plasma Physics Lab. (PPPL), Princeton, NJ (United States)
Univ. of Rochester, Rochester, NY (United States)
Univ. of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI (United States)
Massachusetts Inst. of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, MA (United States)
Princeton Univ., Princeton, NJ (United States)
Univ. of New Hampshire, Durham, NH (United States)

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. Furthermore, 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.

View Accepted Manuscript (DOE)

Research Organization:: Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL), Princeton, NJ (United States); Princeton Univ., Princeton, NJ (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE; USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA); USDOE Office of Science (SC), Advanced Scientific Computing Research (ASCR) (SC-21); USDOE Office of Science (SC), Fusion Energy Sciences (FES) (SC-24)

Grant/Contract Number:: AC05-00OR22725; NA0003613; SC0008655; SC0016249

OSTI ID:: 1543244

Alternate ID(s):: OSTI ID: 1546406

Journal Information:: Physical Review Letters, Journal Name: Physical Review Letters Journal Issue: 24 Vol. 122; ISSN 0031-9007; ISSN PRLTAO

Publisher:: American Physical Society (APS)Copyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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