Experimental evidence of the inverse Faraday effect in laser-plasma interaction and a miniature magnetic bottle

Journal Article · Tue Apr 15 04:00:00 EDT 1997 · AIP Conference Proceedings

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.53505· OSTI ID:21167507

Eliezer, S; Horovitz, Y; Henis, Z; Ludmirsky, A; Shpitalnik, R; Moshe, E; Arad, B; Paiss, Y ^[1]

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1. Plasma Physics Department, Soreq NRC, Yavne 81800 (Israel)

Measurements of the inverse Faraday effect and of the absorption of circularly polarized laser light in plasmas are reported. The experiments were performed with a Nd:YAG with irradiances in the range {approx}10{sup 14} W/cm{sup 2}. The absorption of circularly polarized light was higher by 14% relative to the absorption of linear polarized light. This increase in the laser absorption may be related to the axial magnetic field created by the circularly polarized laser light. Axial magnetic fields of the order of 10 kGauss were measured at irradiances {approx}10{sup 13} W/cm{sup 2} using the Faraday rotation diagnostic. At low intensities of {approx}10{sup 9} W/cm{sup 2}, the magnetic field was obtained from the voltage signal induced through a ferrite ring in an output coil. The axial magnetic field induced by the circular polarized laser light increases linearly with the laser irradiance. A concept of hot plasma confinement in a mini magnetic bottle relying on the magnetic field generation induced by the circularly polarized laser field is described.

• OSTI ID: 21167507
• Journal Information: AIP Conference Proceedings, Journal Name: AIP Conference Proceedings Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 406; ISSN APCPCS; ISSN 0094-243X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
ABSORPTION
ELECTRIC POTENTIAL
FARADAY EFFECT
HOT PLASMA
LASER RADIATION
LASER-PRODUCED PLASMA
MAGNETIC FIELD CONFIGURATIONS
MAGNETIC FIELDS
NEODYMIUM LASERS
PLASMA CONFINEMENT
POLARIZATION
RADIANT FLUX DENSITY