One-to-one direct modeling of experiments and astrophysical scenarios: pushing the envelope on kinetic plasma simulations

Fonseca, Ricardo; Martins, S. F.; Silva, L O; Tonge, J.; Tsung, F. S.; Mori, W. B.

doi:10.1088/0741-3335/50/12/124034

Cited by 230 publications

(200 citation statements)

References 30 publications

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“…Figure 5 3D PIC simulations using the quasistatic PIC code QUICKPIC [32] have been performed to examine in detail the spin precession and polarization dynamics in LWFA scenarios. To this purpose, a random sample of the externally injected electrons was tracked using a particletracking algorithm [36], which stored the trajectories and fields associated with the accelerated electron beam.…”

Section: Numerical Simulationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Polarized beam conditioning in plasma based acceleration

Vieira¹,

Huang

Mori

et al. 2011

Phys. Rev. ST Accel. Beams

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The acceleration of polarized electron beams in the blowout regime of plasma-based acceleration is explored. An analytical model for the spin precession of single beam electrons, and depolarization rates of zero emittance electron beams, is derived. The role of finite emittance is examined numerically by solving the equations for the spin precession with a spin tracking algorithm. The analytical model is in very good agreement with the results from 3D particle-in-cell simulations in the limits of validity of our theory. Our work shows that the beam depolarization is lower for high-energy accelerator stages, and that under the appropriate conditions, the depolarization associated with the acceleration of 100-500 GeV electrons can be kept below 0.1%-0.2%.

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Section: Numerical Simulationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Polarized beam conditioning in plasma based acceleration

Vieira¹,

Huang

Mori

et al. 2011

Phys. Rev. ST Accel. Beams

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“…[21]. In this case, and for nonflow velocities, the shock formation process is dominated by electrostatic modes.The initial stage of the shock formation process is studied in particle-in-cell simulations with the fully relativistic code OSIRIS [30,31]. We use a 3D simulation box with the length in each direction being L x ¼ L y ¼ L z ¼ 60c=ω pe , periodic boundaries in the transverse directions, and a spatial resolution Δx ¼ 0.1c=ω pe in all three directions.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Electromagnetic Field Generation in the Downstream of Electrostatic Shocks Due to Electron Trapping

et al. 2014

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A new magnetic field generation mechanism in electrostatic shocks is found, which can produce fields with magnetic energy density as high as 0.01 of the kinetic energy density of the flows on time scales ∼10 4 ω −1 pe . Electron trapping during the shock formation process creates a strong temperature anisotropy in the distribution function, giving rise to the pure Weibel instability. The generated magnetic field is well confined to the downstream region of the electrostatic shock. The shock formation process is not modified, and the features of the shock front responsible for ion acceleration, which are currently probed in laserplasma laboratory experiments, are maintained. However, such a strong magnetic field determines the particle trajectories downstream and has the potential to modify the signatures of the collisionless shock. Collisionless shocks have been studied for many decades, mainly in the context of space and astrophysics [1][2][3][4]. Recently, shock acceleration raised significant interest in the quest for a laser-based ion acceleration scheme due to an experimentally demonstrated high beam quality [5][6][7][8].Interpenetrating plasma slabs of hot electrons and cold ions are acting to set up the electrostatic fields via longitudinal plasma instabilities. The lighter electrons leaving the denser regions are held back by the electric fields, which pull the ions. Particles are trapped in the associated electrostatic potential, which steepens and eventually reaches a quasisteady-state collisionless electrostatic shock. Most of the theoretical work dates back to the 1970s [9-13] relying on the pseudo-Sagdeev potential [14] and progress has been mainly triggered by kinetic simulations [15][16][17][18].The short formation time scales and the one dimensionality of the problem make it easily accessible with theory and computer simulations. However, long time shock evolution was often one dimensional or electrostatic codes were used, and the role of electromagnetic modes was mostly neglected. More advanced multidimensional simulations have shown the importance of electromagnetic modes also in this context, due to transverse modes which are excited on the ion time scale [19,20]. We show that in the case of very high electron temperatures associated with the formation of electrostatic shocks [21], electromagnetic modes become important on electron time scales, creating strong magnetic fields in the downstream of the shock.With the increase in laser energy and intensity, the possibility to drive electrostatic shocks has become important for laboratory experiments of electrostatic shocks. Recent laser-driven shock experiments showed the appearance of an electromagnetic field structure [22][23][24], which was attributed to the ion-filamentation instability [25] that evolves on time scales of ten thousands of the inverse electron plasma frequency, ω −1 pe . As a main outcome of this Letter, we show that these structures can already be seeded and produced on tens of ω −1 pe and remain in a quasisteady state over t...

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“…The magnetic field energy was not measured. Large scale numerical simulations [6,7] demonstrate an important role that the Weibel instability plays in the energy transfer in streaming plasmas in astrophysical conditions.…”

Section: Epj Web Of Conferencesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Numerical simulations of energy transfer in two collisionless interpenetrating plasmas

Davis

Capdessus

d’Humières

et al. 2013

EPJ Web of Conferences

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Abstract. Ion stream instabilities are essential for collisionless shock formation as seen in astrophysics. Weakly relativistic shocks are considered as candidates for sources of high energy cosmic rays. Laboratory experiments may provide a better understanding of this phenomenon. High intensity short pulse laser systems are opening possibilities for efficient ion acceleration to high energies. Their collision with a secondary target could be used for collisionless shock formation. In this paper, using particle-in-cell simulations we are studying interaction of a sub-relativistic, laser created proton beam with a secondary gas target. We show that the ion bunch initiates strong electron heating accompanied by the Weibel-like filamentation and ion energy losses. The energy repartition between ions, electrons and magnetic fields are investigated. This yields insight on the processes occurring in the interstellar medium (ISM) and gamma-ray burst afterglows.

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One-to-one direct modeling of experiments and astrophysical scenarios: pushing the envelope on kinetic plasma simulations

Cited by 230 publications

References 30 publications

Polarized beam conditioning in plasma based acceleration

Polarized beam conditioning in plasma based acceleration

Electromagnetic Field Generation in the Downstream of Electrostatic Shocks Due to Electron Trapping

Numerical simulations of energy transfer in two collisionless interpenetrating plasmas

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