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Title: Laboratory investigation of particle acceleration and magnetic field compression in collisionless colliding fast plasma flows

Journal Article · · Communications Physics
 [1]; ORCiD logo [2];  [3];  [3];  [4];  [5];  [6];  [7];  [7];  [8];  [9];  [7]; ORCiD logo [10];  [11];  [7];  [11];  [12]; ORCiD logo [13]; ORCiD logo [7];  [14] more »; ORCiD logo [15] « less
  1. Sorbonne Univ., Palaiseau Cedex (France); Lawrence Livermore National Lab. (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
  2. National Research Nuclear Univ. MEPhI, Moscow (Russian Federation); P.N. Lebedev Physical Institute (LPI), Moscow (Russian Federation)
  3. Sorbonne Univ., Palaiseau Cedex (France); CEA, DAM, DIF, Arpajon (France)
  4. Inst. of Physics Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Brezany (Czech Republic)
  5. LNCMI, Toulouse (France)
  6. Sorbonne Univ., Palaiseau Cedex (France); “Horia Hulubei” National Institute for Physics and Nuclear Engineering, Bucharest-Magurele (Romania)
  7. Sorbonne Univ., Palaiseau Cedex (France)
  8. CEA, DAM, DIF, Arpajon (France)
  9. INRS-EMT, Varennes, QC (Canada)
  10. National Research Nuclear Univ. MEPhI, Moscow (Russian Federation); Joint Inst. for High Temperatures, Moscow (Russian Federation)
  11. Lawrence Livermore National Lab. (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
  12. Inst. of Applied Physics, Novgorod (Russian Federation)
  13. Inst. of Physics Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Dolni Brezany (Czech Republic); Univ. of Bordeaux, Talence (France)
  14. Univ. of Bordeaux, Talence (France)
  15. Sorbonne Univ., Palaiseau Cedex (France); Inst. of Applied Physics, Novgorod (Russian Federation)

In many natural phenomena in space (cosmic-rays, fast winds), non-thermal ion populations are produced, with wave-particle interactions in self-induced electromagnetic turbulence being suspected to be mediators. However, the processes by which the electromagnetic energy is bestowed upon the particles is debated, and in some cases requires field compression. Here we show that laboratory experiments using high-power lasers and external strong magnetic field can be used to infer magnetic field compression in the interpenetration of two collisionless, high-velocity (0.01–0.1c) quasi-neutral plasma flows. This is evidenced through observed plasma stagnation at the flows collision point, which Particle-in-Cell (PIC) simulations suggest to be the signature of magnetic field compression into a thin layer, followed by its dislocation into magnetic vortices. Acceleration of protons from the plasma collision is observed as well. As a possible scenario, with 1D and 2D PIC simulations we consider a compression of the vortices against dense plasma remnants.

Research Organization:
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)
Grant/Contract Number:
AC52-07NA27344
OSTI ID:
1568022
Alternate ID(s):
OSTI ID: 23079257
Report Number(s):
LLNL-JRNL--744001; 898765
Journal Information:
Communications Physics, Journal Name: Communications Physics Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 2; ISSN 2399-3650
Publisher:
Springer NatureCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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