Speaker
Description
See the full abstract here:
http://ocs.ciemat.es/EPS2019ABS/pdf/P1.4016.pdf
MegaGausslevel magnetic fields applied to laser produced plasmas are opening the door to a range of new studies in inertial confinement fusion and laboratory astrophysics. Our experiments and related theoretical work have addressed the physics of magnetized accretion flows [1], jet collimation [2, 3] and variability [4], and more recently, iondriven streaming instabilities and particle acceleration. In this paper we shall discuss the acceleration of charged particles in colliding plasma flows generated by irradiating with a nslaser, two oppositely facing solid targets. The expanding plumes are collimated into jets by an externally imposed 20 T magnetic field and the collision of the two jets generates a region of strong shocks and turbulence. Measurements using a Thomson parabola indicate particles with energies up to ~1MeV. To understand the mechanisms leading to the acceleration of the particles, simulations are performed with the 3D resistive MHD code GORGON coupled with a testparticles solver. The dynamics of the plasma and how the particles get their energy will be presented. Notably we find that the magnetized RayleighTaylor instability can drive expanding plasma spikes that energize particles by a Fermitype acceleration mechanism. Possible implications for astrophysical systems will be discussed.
References
[1] Revet et al., Science Advances, Vol. 3, no. 11, e1700982 (2017)
[2] Ciardi et al., Physical Review Letters, 110, 025002 (2013)
[3] Albertazzi et al., Science, Vol, 346, Issue 6207, pp. 325328 (2014)
[4] Higginson et al., Physical Review Letters, 119, 255002 (2007)
