Collisionless interaction of an energetic laser produced plasma with a large magnetoplasma

Constantin, Carmen; Gekelman, Walter; Pribyl, Patrick; Everson, E. T.; Schaeffer, D. B.; Kugland, N. L.; Presura, R.; Neff, S.; Plechaty, C.; Vincena, S.; Collette, A.; Tripathi, Shreekrishna; Muniz, M. Villagrán; Niemann, C.

doi:10.1007/978-90-481-9999-0_27

Cited by 4 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 26 publications

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“…The large spatial and temporal scales probed here are of further interest for astrophysicallyrelevant, laboratory-simulated collisionless shocks, where large spatial (several ion gyro-radii) and temporal (several ion gyro-periods) scales are required to form and propagate the shock [31,22]. This study presents the first step in measuring the temperature and density evolutions of these phenomena.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 83%

Thomson Scattering Measurements of Temperature and Density in a Low-Density, Laser-Driven Magnetized Plasma

et al. 2012

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We present electron temperature and density measurements from Thomson scattering on recent collisionless shock experiments on the Trident laser at Los Alamos National Laboratory. A graphite target placed inside a static magnetic field ( 1 kG) created by a 50 cm-diameter Helmholtz coil was ablated by a 1053 nm beam, which created a low-density, magnetized plasma. A separate 527 nm beam was used for Thomson scattering to characterize the plasma 3 cm radially from the target and 0.5 − 8.5 µs after ablation. The electron temperature was found to be relatively constant over 8 µs at 11 − 13 eV and, combined with Rayleigh scattering, the electron density was found to be 2 × 10 14 − 4 × 10 14 cm −3 over the same timescale. Several carbon emission lines were also observed in the Thomson spectrum and were utilized to independently measure the electron temperature and density and to characterize the plasma charge state.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 83%

Thomson Scattering Measurements of Temperature and Density in a Low-Density, Laser-Driven Magnetized Plasma

et al. 2012

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“…Laboratory experiments of relevance to heliospheric magnetosonic shocks must fulfill a number of conditions, expressed in terms of dimensionless scaling parameters [ Drake , ; Constantin et al , ]. The piston must drive a magnetic pulse at supermagnetosonic speed ( M A = v shock / v A > 1) through the magnetized plasma long enough for coupling to occur ( τ Ω c i >1, where τ = L / v shock is the shock transit time, L is the ambient plasma size along the blow‐off axis, and Ω c i is the ambient ion cyclotron frequency).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Observation of collisionless shocks in a large current‐free laboratory plasma

Niemann

Gekelman

Constantin

et al. 2014

Geophysical Research Letters

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We report the first measurements of the formation and structure of a magnetized collisionless shock by a laser-driven magnetic piston in a current-free laboratory plasma. This new class of experiments combines a high-energy laser system and a large magnetized plasma to transfer energy from a laser plasma plume to the ambient ions through collisionless coupling, until a self-sustained M A ∼ 2 magnetosonic shock separates from the piston. The ambient plasma is highly magnetized, current free, and large enough (17 m × 0.6 m) to support Alfvén waves. Magnetic field measurements of the structure and evolution of the shock are consistent with two-dimensional hybrid simulations, which show Larmor coupling between the debris and ambient ions and the presence of reflected ions, which provide the dissipation. The measured shock formation time confirms predictions from computational work.

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“…Experiments in a quasi-parallel geometry will take advantage of the unsurpassed length of the ambient plasma column (D = 18 m). Previous experiments at lower power and sub-Alfvénic velocity [53,54] have shown that the blow-off from a solid target propagates as a high-density plasma-cloud over distances of several meters through the ambient plasma, when directed along the field lines. In H + at n i = 2 × 10 13 cm −3 and 350 G, the piston can then propagate over more than 300 c/ω pi .…”

Section: Collisionless Shocks In the Lapdmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A new kilojoule-class laser system (Raptor) has been commissioned at the Phoenix laser-facility one floor above the LAPD for a new class of integrated experiments on exploding plasmas in the presence of a large magnetoplasma. The laser facility also includes a 35 J (5 ns at 1064 nm) Nd:silicate rod laser system (Phoenix) [53], and a 25 J / 6 Hz high-average-power slab laser [57]. Like similar high-energy lasers elsewhere [58][59][60][61][62] the new kilojoule-system includes recycled components from the decommissioned NOVA laser of Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory [63].…”

Section: High-energy Laser Systemmentioning

confidence: 99%

High-energy Nd:glass laser facility for collisionless laboratory astrophysics

Niemann¹,

Constantin²,

Schaeffer³

et al. 2012

J. Inst.

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A kilojoule-class laser (Raptor) has recently been activated at the Phoenix-laserfacility at the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) for an experimental program on laboratory astrophysics in conjunction with the Large Plasma Device (LAPD). The unique combination of a high-energy laser system and the 18 meter long, highly-magnetized but current-free plasma will support a new class of plasma physics experiments, including the first laboratory simulations of quasi-parallel collisionless shocks, experiments on magnetic reconnection, or advanced laserbased diagnostics of basic plasmas. Here we present the parameter space accessible with this new instrument, results from a laser-driven magnetic piston experiment at reduced power, and a detailed description of the laser system and its performance.

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Collisionless interaction of an energetic laser produced plasma with a large magnetoplasma

Cited by 4 publications

References 26 publications

Thomson Scattering Measurements of Temperature and Density in a Low-Density, Laser-Driven Magnetized Plasma

Thomson Scattering Measurements of Temperature and Density in a Low-Density, Laser-Driven Magnetized Plasma

Observation of collisionless shocks in a large current‐free laboratory plasma

High-energy Nd:glass laser facility for collisionless laboratory astrophysics

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