Three-Dimensional Magnetic Structures Generated by the Development of the Filamentation (Weibel) Instability in the Relativistic Regime

Califano, Francesco; Sarto, D. Del; Пегораро, Ф.

doi:10.1103/physrevlett.96.105008

Cited by 51 publications

(34 citation statements)

References 27 publications

(30 reference statements)

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“…In this regime, electron-beam-induced instabilities are expected to generate magnetic fields (for instance, the Weibel instability1921). However, the Weibel instability alone would inject power at the typical scale of the electron skin-depth, where the growth rate maximizes.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Magnetic turbulence in a table-top laser-plasma relevant to astrophysical scenarios

et al. 2017

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Turbulent magnetic fields abound in nature, pervading astrophysical, solar, terrestrial and laboratory plasmas. Understanding the ubiquity of magnetic turbulence and its role in the universe is an outstanding scientific challenge. Here, we report on the transition of magnetic turbulence from an initially electron-driven regime to one dominated by ion-magnetization in a laboratory plasma produced by an intense, table-top laser. Our observations at the magnetized ion scale of the saturated turbulent spectrum bear a striking resemblance with spacecraft measurements of the solar wind magnetic-field spectrum, including the emergence of a spectral kink. Despite originating from diverse energy injection sources (namely, electrons in the laboratory experiment and ion free-energy sources in the solar wind), the turbulent spectra exhibit remarkable parallels. This demonstrates the independence of turbulent spectral properties from the driving source of the turbulence and highlights the potential of small-scale, table-top laboratory experiments for investigating turbulence in astrophysical environments.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Magnetic turbulence in a table-top laser-plasma relevant to astrophysical scenarios

et al. 2017

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“…The process of beam filamentation has since then been alternatively referred to as filamentation instability, 28,51,59,92,114,142,143 Weibel instability, 52,61,104,112,113,144 or both at the same time. 54,55,145 Figure 15 explains the basis for the analogy developed by Fried. The anisotropic hot plasma with thermal velocities V ty ӷ V tx is unstable in Weibel's sense.…”

Section: F Filamentation Versus Weibel Instabilitiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Multidimensional electron beam-plasma instabilities in the relativistic regime

2010

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The interest in relativistic beam-plasma instabilities has been greatly rejuvenated over the past two decades by novel concepts in laboratory and space plasmas. Recent advances in this long-standing field are here reviewed from both theoretical and numerical points of view. The primary focus is on the two-dimensional spectrum of unstable electromagnetic waves growing within relativistic, unmagnetized, and uniform electron beam-plasma systems. Although the goal is to provide a unified picture of all instability classes at play, emphasis is put on the potentially dominant waves propagating obliquely to the beam direction, which have received little attention over the years. First, the basic derivation of the general dielectric function of a kinetic relativistic plasma is recalled. Next, an overview of two-dimensional unstable spectra associated with various beam-plasma distribution functions is given. Both cold-fluid and kinetic linear theory results are reported, the latter being based on waterbag and Maxwell-Jüttner model distributions. The main properties of the competing modes ͑developing parallel, transverse, and oblique to the beam͒ are given, and their respective region of dominance in the system parameter space is explained. Later sections address particle-in-cell numerical simulations and the nonlinear evolution of multidimensional beam-plasma systems. The elementary structures generated by the various instability classes are first discussed in the case of reduced-geometry systems. Validation of linear theory is then illustrated in detail for large-scale systems, as is the multistaged character of the nonlinear phase. Finally, a collection of closely related beam-plasma problems involving additional physical effects is presented, and worthwhile directions of future research are outlined.

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“…Few PIC simulation studies of thermal-anisotropy driven instabilities have been performed in comparison with simulation studies of the filamentation instability, which has been examined in 1-D (Morse and Nielson, 1971;Califano et al, 2002;Rowlands et al, 2007), in 2-D (Morse and Nielson, 1971;Honda et al, 2000;Medvedev et al, 2005;Stockem et al, 2008) and in 3D Silva et al, 2003;Califano et al, 2006;Jaroschek et al, 2004). These simulations addressed the filamentation instability for a wide range of initial conditions such as the speed or the constituents (electrons, positrons and ions).…”

Section: Magnetic Field Generationmentioning

confidence: 99%

The formation of relativistic plasma structures and their potential role in the generation of cosmic ray electrons

Dieckmann¹

2008

Nonlin. Processes Geophys.

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Abstract. Recent particle-in-cell (PIC) simulation studies have addressed particle acceleration and magnetic field generation in relativistic astrophysical flows by plasma phase space structures. We discuss the astrophysical environments such as the jets of compact objects, and we give an overview of the global PIC simulations of shocks. These reveal several types of phase space structures, which are relevant for the energy dissipation. These structures are typically coupled in shocks, but we choose to consider them here in an isolated form. Three structures are reviewed. (1) Simulations of interpenetrating or colliding plasma clouds can trigger filamentation instabilities, while simulations of thermally anisotropic plasmas observe the Weibel instability. Both transform a spatially uniform plasma into current filaments. These filament structures cause the growth of the magnetic fields. (2) The development of a modified two-stream instability is discussed. It saturates first by the formation of electron phase space holes. The relativistic electron clouds modulate the ion beam and a secondary, spatially localized electrostatic instability grows, which saturates by forming a relativistic ion phase space hole. It accelerates electrons to ultra-relativistic speeds. (3) A simulation is also revised, in which two clouds of an electron-ion plasma collide at the speed 0.9c. The inequal densities of both clouds and a magnetic field that is oblique to the collision velocity vector result in waves with a mixed electrostatic and electromagnetic polarity. The waves give rise to growing corkscrew distributions in the electrons and ions that establish an equipartition between the electron, the ion and the magnetic energy. The filament-, phase space hole-and corkscrew structures are discussed with respect to electron acceleration and magnetic field generation.Correspondence to: M. E. Dieckmann

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Three-Dimensional Magnetic Structures Generated by the Development of the Filamentation (Weibel) Instability in the Relativistic Regime

Cited by 51 publications

References 27 publications

Magnetic turbulence in a table-top laser-plasma relevant to astrophysical scenarios

Magnetic turbulence in a table-top laser-plasma relevant to astrophysical scenarios

Multidimensional electron beam-plasma instabilities in the relativistic regime

The formation of relativistic plasma structures and their potential role in the generation of cosmic ray electrons

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