Suppression of the Biermann Battery and Stabilization of the Thermomagnetic Instability in Laser Fusion Conditions
Abstract
Magnetic field generated by the Biermann battery is thought to be one of the principal mechanisms behind the inhibition of heat flow in laser-plasma interactions, and is predicted to grow exponentially in some contexts due to the thermomagnetic instability [Tidman and Shanny, Phys. Fluids 17, 1207 (1974)]. In contrast to these predictions, however, here we have conducted Vlasov-Fokker-Planck simulations of magnetic field dynamics under a range of classically unstable laser-fusion conditions, and find field generation to be strongly suppressed, preventing magnetization of the transport, and stabilizing instability. By deriving new scaling laws, we show that this stabilization is a consequence of (i) heavy suppression of the Biermann battery under nonlocal conditions; (ii) rapid convection of magnetic field by the heat flow; and (iii) comparatively short field length scales. Our results indicate that classical models substantially overestimate the importance of magnetic fields generated by the Biermann battery, and the susceptibility of laser-fusion plasmas to the thermomagnetic instability.
- Authors:
-
[1];
[2]
- Lawrence Livermore National Lab. (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
- Univ. of Warwick, Coventry (UK)
- Publication Date:
- Research Org.:
- Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
- Sponsoring Org.:
- USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)
- OSTI Identifier:
- 1632381
- Alternate Identifier(s):
- OSTI ID: 1598395
- Report Number(s):
- LLNL-JRNL-811239; LLNL-JRNL-730526
Journal ID: ISSN 0031-9007; PRLTAO; 1017965; TRN: US2201115
- Grant/Contract Number:
- AC52-07NA27344
- Resource Type:
- Accepted Manuscript
- Journal Name:
- Physical Review Letters
- Additional Journal Information:
- Journal Volume: 124; Journal Issue: 5; Journal ID: ISSN 0031-9007
- Publisher:
- American Physical Society (APS)
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- 70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY; Plasma physics; Inertial confinement fusion; Laser-plasma interactions; Magnetic field generation & plasma dynamo; Plasma transport
Citation Formats
Sherlock, M., and Bissell, J. J. Suppression of the Biermann Battery and Stabilization of the Thermomagnetic Instability in Laser Fusion Conditions. United States: N. p., 2020.
Web. doi:10.1103/PhysRevLett.124.055001.
Sherlock, M., & Bissell, J. J. Suppression of the Biermann Battery and Stabilization of the Thermomagnetic Instability in Laser Fusion Conditions. United States. https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.124.055001
Sherlock, M., and Bissell, J. J. Mon .
"Suppression of the Biermann Battery and Stabilization of the Thermomagnetic Instability in Laser Fusion Conditions". United States. https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.124.055001. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1632381.
@article{osti_1632381,
title = {Suppression of the Biermann Battery and Stabilization of the Thermomagnetic Instability in Laser Fusion Conditions},
author = {Sherlock, M. and Bissell, J. J.},
abstractNote = {Magnetic field generated by the Biermann battery is thought to be one of the principal mechanisms behind the inhibition of heat flow in laser-plasma interactions, and is predicted to grow exponentially in some contexts due to the thermomagnetic instability [Tidman and Shanny, Phys. Fluids 17, 1207 (1974)]. In contrast to these predictions, however, here we have conducted Vlasov-Fokker-Planck simulations of magnetic field dynamics under a range of classically unstable laser-fusion conditions, and find field generation to be strongly suppressed, preventing magnetization of the transport, and stabilizing instability. By deriving new scaling laws, we show that this stabilization is a consequence of (i) heavy suppression of the Biermann battery under nonlocal conditions; (ii) rapid convection of magnetic field by the heat flow; and (iii) comparatively short field length scales. Our results indicate that classical models substantially overestimate the importance of magnetic fields generated by the Biermann battery, and the susceptibility of laser-fusion plasmas to the thermomagnetic instability.},
doi = {10.1103/PhysRevLett.124.055001},
journal = {Physical Review Letters},
number = 5,
volume = 124,
place = {United States},
year = {Mon Feb 03 00:00:00 EST 2020},
month = {Mon Feb 03 00:00:00 EST 2020}
}
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