Collisional effects on Rayleigh-Taylor-induced magnetic fields

Journal Article · Fri May 15 00:00:00 EDT 2015 · Physics of Plasmas

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4919392· OSTI ID:22410401

Flaig, M.; Plewa, T. ^[1]; Li, C. K.; Séguin, F. H.; Frenje, J. A.; Casey, D. T.; Petrasso, R. D. ^[2]; Hu, S. X.; Betti, R.; Hager, J.; Meyerhofer, D. D.; Smalyuk, V. ^[3]

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1. Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida 32306 (United States)
2. Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139 (United States)
3. Laboratory for Laser Energetics, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York 14623 (United States)

Magnetic-field generation from the Rayleigh-Taylor (RT) instability was predicted more than 30 years ago, though experimental measurements of this phenomenon have only occurred in the past few years. These pioneering observations demonstrated that collisional effects are important to B-field evolution. To produce fields of a measurable strength, high-intensity lasers irradiate solid targets to generate the nonaligned temperature and density gradients required for B-field generation. The ablation process naturally generates an unstable system where RT-induced magnetic fields form. Field strengths inferred from monoenergetic-proton radiographs indicate that in the ablation region diffusive effects caused by finite plasma resistivity are not negligible. Results from the first proof-of-existence experiments are reviewed and the role of collisional effects on B-field evolution is discussed in detail.

• OSTI ID: 22410401
• Journal Information: Physics of Plasmas, Vol. 22, Issue 5; Other Information: (c) 2015 AIP Publishing LLC; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 1070-664X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
ABLATION
COLLISIONS
LASER RADIATION
LASER TARGETS
MAGNETIC FIELDS
PLASMA
PROTON RADIOGRAPHY
RAYLEIGH-TAYLOR INSTABILITY