Interpenetration and ion separation in colliding plasmas
- University of California, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, P.O. Box 808, Livermore, California 94551 (United States)
The interpenetration of colliding plasmas in the transition regime, where the ion--ion mean-free path is of the same order as the gradient scale length, is studied by one-dimensional simulations and dimensional analysis. Separate fluid equations for multiple species are solved, with coupling between the different species due to the electric field and Coulomb collisions. These simulations show initial interpenetration followed by a soft'' stagnation. For colliding plasmas characteristic of opposing laser heated disks, the stagnation time, the stagnation density and temperature, and the interpenetration distance are shown to depend primarily on a single parameter, defining the ratio of the scale length to the ion--ion mean-free path. Simulations of colliding plasmas from exploding plastic foils with separate ion fluids for the carbon and hydrogen are presented, showing appreciable ion separation. These results may provide a guide for the design of interpenetrating plasma experiments.
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-48
- OSTI ID:
- 6846591
- Journal Information:
- Physics of Plasmas; (United States), Journal Name: Physics of Plasmas; (United States) Vol. 1:12; ISSN PHPAEN; ISSN 1070-664X
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
700350* -- Plasma Production
Heating
Current Drive
& Interactions-- (1992-)
CARBON
COLLISIONS
ELEMENTS
HYDROGEN
ION COLLISIONS
ION-ION COLLISIONS
LASER-PRODUCED PLASMA
NONMETALS
PLASMA
PLASMA FLUID EQUATIONS
PLASMA SIMULATION
SCALING LAWS
SHOCK WAVES
SIMULATION
STAGNATION
TRANSPORT THEORY