Weibel instability with constant driving source

Journal Article · Mon Jul 01 04:00:00 EDT 1991 · Physics of Fluids B; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.859677· OSTI ID:5660702

Wallace, J M ^[1]; Epperlein, E M ^[2]

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1. Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico 87545 (USA)
2. Laboratory of Laser Energetics, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York 14623 (USA)

A method has been developed for performing numerical particle-in-cell simulations of the Weibel instability in which the driving anisotropy is held constant. With the method, the instability is computed to grow to saturation in a well-behaved manner. Initially, growth is in close agreement with the predictions of linear theory. Subsequently, the growth rate falls below linear-theory predictions as magnetic fields grow to substantial levels. And finally, the instability reaches saturation, after which a steady state is established. A single mode comes to dominate the magnetic field at late times in the simulations. This is the mode identified in linear theory as the most rapidly growing. The method has been employed to investigate the importance of the Weibel instability in laser-produced plasmas. It is found that, because of saturation, the fields do not grow sufficiently to affect heat flow ({omega}{sub {ital c}}{tau}{lt}1) in the overdense plasma. In the near-critical underdense plasma, the fields would have, at most, marginal influence for shorter wavelength irradiation ({lambda}{sub {ital L}}{le}0.25 {mu}m) but possibly substantial influence at longer wavelengths ({lambda}{sub {ital L}}{ge}1 {mu}m).

• OSTI ID: 5660702
• Journal Information: Physics of Fluids B; (USA), Journal Name: Physics of Fluids B; (USA) Vol. 3:7; ISSN 0899-8221; ISSN PFBPE
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
700107 -- Fusion Energy-- Plasma Research-- Instabilities
700108* -- Fusion Energy-- Plasma Research-- Wave Phenomena
CALCULATION METHODS
COLLISIONLESS PLASMA
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
FLUCTUATIONS
INSTABILITY
LASER-PRODUCED PLASMA
MAGNETIC FIELDS
PLASMA
PLASMA INSTABILITY
PLASMA MICROINSTABILITIES
RADIATIONS
SATURATION
SIMULATION
USES
VARIATIONS