Influence of the Weibel instability on the expansion of a plasma slab into a vacuum

Journal Article · Sun Aug 15 04:00:00 EDT 2010 · Physical Review. E, Statistical, Nonlinear, and Soft Matter Physics (Print)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PHYSREVE.82.026408· OSTI ID:21464492

Thaury, C; Mora, P; Heron, A; Adam, J C; Antonsen, T M ^[1]

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1. Centre de Physique Theorique, Ecole Polytechnique-CNRS, 91128 Palaiseau (France)

The development of the Weibel instability during the expansion of a thin plasma foil heated by an intense laser pulse is investigated, using both analytical models and relativistic particle-in-cell simulations. When the plasma has initially an anisotropic electron distribution, this electromagnetic instability develops from the beginning of the expansion. Then it contributes to suppress the anisotropy and eventually saturates. After the saturation, the strength of the magnetic field decreases because of the plasma expansion until it becomes too weak to maintain the distribution isotropic. For this time, the anisotropy rises as electrons give progressively their longitudinal energy to ions, so that a new instability can develop.

• OSTI ID: 21464492
• Journal Information: Physical Review. E, Statistical, Nonlinear, and Soft Matter Physics (Print), Journal Name: Physical Review. E, Statistical, Nonlinear, and Soft Matter Physics (Print) Journal Issue: 2 Vol. 82; ISSN 1539-3755
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
ANISOTROPY
CHARGED PARTICLES
COMPUTERIZED SIMULATION
DISTRIBUTION
ELECTRONS
ELEMENTARY PARTICLES
ENERGY RANGE
EXPANSION
FERMIONS
INSTABILITY
IONS
LASERS
LEPTONS
MAGNETIC FIELDS
PLASMA
PLASMA EXPANSION
PLASMA INSTABILITY
PLASMA SIMULATION
PULSES
RELATIVISTIC RANGE
SIMULATION
SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION