Magnetic field generation during intense laser channelling in underdense plasma

Journal Article · Wed Jun 15 04:00:00 EDT 2016 · Physics of Plasmas

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4953547· OSTI ID:22598926

Smyth, A. G.; Sarri, G.; Doria, D.; Kar, S.; Borghesi, M. ^[1]; Vranic, M.; Guillaume, E.; Silva, L. O.; Vieira, J. ^[2]; Amano, Y.; Habara, H.; Tanaka, K. A. ^[3]; Heathcote, R.; Norreys, P. A. ^[4]; Hicks, G.; Najmudin, Z.; Nakamura, H. ^[5]

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1. School of Mathematics and Physics, The Queen's University of Belfast, University Road, Belfast BT7 1NN (United Kingdom)
2. GoLP/IPFN, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, 1049-001 Lisbon (Portugal)
3. Graduate School of Engineering Osaka University. Suita, Osaka 5650871 (Japan)
4. STFC Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Didcot, Oxon OX1 0Qx (United Kingdom)
5. Blackett Laboratory, Imperial College London, Prince Consort Road, London SW7 2BZ (United Kingdom)

Channel formation during the propagation of a high-energy (120 J) and long duration (30 ps) laser pulse through an underdense deuterium plasma has been spatially and temporally resolved via means of a proton imaging technique, with intrinsic resolutions of a few μm and a few ps, respectively. Conclusive proof is provided that strong azimuthally symmetric magnetic fields with a strength of around 0.5 MG are created inside the channel, consistent with the generation of a collimated beam of relativistic electrons. The inferred electron beam characteristics may have implications for the cone-free fast-ignition scheme of inertial confinement fusion.

• OSTI ID: 22598926
• Journal Information: Physics of Plasmas, Journal Name: Physics of Plasmas Journal Issue: 6 Vol. 23; ISSN PHPAEN; ISSN 1070-664X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
CHANNELING
DEUTERIUM
ELECTRON BEAMS
ELECTRONS
INERTIAL CONFINEMENT
LASERS
MAGNETIC FIELDS
PLASMA
PROTONS
PULSES
RELATIVISTIC RANGE
THERMONUCLEAR IGNITION