Modeling magnetic confinement of laser-generated plasma in cylindrical geometry leading to disk-shaped structures

Journal Article · 20 February 2020 · Physics of Plasmas

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1063/1.5139888 · OSTI ID:1602870

Leal, L. S. ^[1]; Maximov, A. V. ^[1]; Betti, R. ^[1]; Sefkow, A. B. ^[1]; Ivanov, V. V. ^[2]

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1. Univ. of Rochester, NY (United States). Lab. for Laser Energetics
2. Univ. of Nevada, Reno, NV (United States)

Radiation-magnetohydrodynamic simulations were able to reproduce features of the plasma structures observed in recent experiments1, where a laser was used to ablate plasma in a 3 MG magnetic field. The laser ablates the plasma, and localized structures are formed due to the inhibition of heat flow by the magnetic field. The large magnetic pressures cause the plasma to pinch. In an azimuthal fi eld, a disc-shaped plasma is generated. According to simulations, the disc has electron densities that are underdense to the laser, ranging from 10¹⁸ to 10¹⁹ cm^-3, and electron temperatures in the 300 to 1000 eV range during its evolution, similar to experimental data.

• Research Organization: Univ. of Nevada, Reno, NV (United States); Univ. of Rochester, NY (United States). Lab. for Laser Energetics
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Science (SC), Fusion Energy Sciences (FES); USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)
• Grant/Contract Number: NA0003856; SC0016500
• OSTI ID: 1602870
• Alternate ID(s): OSTI ID: 1600846; OSTI ID: 1602259
• Report Number(s): 2019-326; 1551; TRN: US2104051
• Journal Information: Physics of Plasmas, Vol. 27, Issue 2; ISSN 1070-664X
• Publisher: American Institute of Physics (AIP)Copyright Statement
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English