Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-vdxz6 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-30T15:53:41.489Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Magnetic field generation, Weibel-mediated collisionless shocks, and magnetic reconnection in colliding laser-produced plasmas

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 October 2016

W. Fox ,
A. Bhattacharjee  and
G. Fiksel
W. Fox
Affiliation:
Princeton Plasma Physics LaboratoryP.O. Box 451, Princeton, NJ 08543USA email: [email protected]
A. Bhattacharjee
Affiliation:
Princeton Plasma Physics LaboratoryP.O. Box 451, Princeton, NJ 08543USA Princeton University, Dept. of Astrophysical SciencesPrinceton, NJ 08543USA
G. Fiksel
Affiliation:
University of Rochester, Laboratory for Laser EnergeticsRochester, NY 14623, USA University of Michigan, Dept. of Nuclear Engineering and Radiological ScienceAnn Arbor, MI 48109, USA
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

Colliding plasmas are ubiquitous in astrophysical environments and allow conversion of kinetic energy into heat and, most importantly, the acceleration of particles to extremely high energies to form the cosmic ray spectrum. In collisionless astrophysical plasmas, kinetic plasma processes govern the interaction and particle acceleration processes, including shock formation, self-generation of magnetic fields by kinetic plasma instabilities, and magnetic field compression and reconnection. How each of these contribute to the observed spectra of cosmic rays is not fully understood, in particular both shock acceleration processes and magnetic reconnection have been proposed. We will review recent results of laboratory astrophysics experiments conducted at high-power, inertial-fusion-class laser facilities, which have uncovered significant results relevant to these processes. Recent experiments have now observed the long-sought Weibel instability between two interpenetrating high temperature plasma plumes, which has been proposed to generate the magnetic field necessary for shock formation in unmagnetized regimes. Secondly, magnetic reconnection has been studied in systems of colliding plasmas using either self-generated magnetic fields or externally applied magnetic fields, and show extremely fast reconnection rates, indicating fast destruction of magnetic energy and further possibilities to accelerate particles. Finally, we highlight kinetic plasma simulations, which have proven to be essential tools in the design and interpretation of these experiments.

Keywords

plasmasmagnetic fieldsshock wavesacceleration of particles
Type
Contributed Papers
Information
Proceedings of the International Astronomical Union , Volume 11 , General Assembly A29A: Astronomy in Focus , August 2015 , pp. 329 - 332
Copyright
Copyright © International Astronomical Union 2016 

References

Ackermann, M., Ajello, M., Allafort, A., et al. 2013, Science, 339, 807 Google Scholar
Bell, A. R. 1978, MNRAS, 182, 147 Google Scholar
Davidson, R. C., Hammer, D. A., Haber, I., & Wagner, C. E. 1972, Phys. Fluids, 15, 317 Google Scholar
Deng, W., Fox, W., & Bhattacharjee, A. 2015, to be submitted Google Scholar
Drake, J. F., Opher, M., Swisdak, M., et al. 2010, ApJ, 709, 963 Google Scholar
Drake, J. F., Swisdak, M., Che, H., & Shay, M. A. 2006, Nature, 443, 553 Google Scholar
Fiksel, G., Fox, W., Bhattacharjee, A., et al. 2014, Phys. Rev. Lett., 113, 105003 Google Scholar
Fox, W., Fiksel, G., Bhattacharjee, A., et al. 2013, Phys. Rev. Lett., 111, 225002 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Huntington, C. M., Fiuza, F., Ross, J. S., et al. 2015, Nature Physics, 11, 173 Google Scholar
Kato, T. N. & Takabe, H. 2008, ApJ, 681, L93 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Li, C. K., Séguin, F. H., Frenje, J. A., et al. 2007, Phys. Rev. Lett., 99, 055001 Google Scholar
Nilson, P. M., Willingale, L., Kaluza, M. C., et al. 2006, Phys. Rev. Lett., 97, 255001 Google Scholar
Spitkovsky, A. 2008, ApJ, 673, L39 Google Scholar
Weibel, E. S. 1959, Phys. Rev. Lett., 2, 83 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Yamada, M., Kulsrud, R., & Ji, H. 2010, Rev. Mod. Phys., 82, 603 Google Scholar