Laboratory investigation of particle acceleration and magnetic field compression in collisionless colliding fast plasma flows

0522104 - FZÚ 2020 RIV GB eng J - Journal Article
Higginson, D.P. - Korneev, Ph. - Ruyer, C. - Riquier, R. - Moreno-Gelos, Quentin - Beard, J. - Chen, S.N. - Grassi, A. - Grech, M. - Gremillet, L. - Pépin, H. - Perez, F. - Pikuz, S. - Pollock, J. - Riconda, C. - Shepherd, R. - Starodubtsev, M. - Tikhonchuk, Vladimir - Vinci, T. - d'Humieres, E. - Fuchs, J.
Laboratory investigation of particle acceleration and magnetic field compression in collisionless colliding fast plasma flows.
COMMUNICATIONS PHYSICS. Roč. 2, č. 1 (2019), s. 1-7, č. článku 60. ISSN 2399-3650. E-ISSN 2399-3650
Institutional support: RVO:68378271
Keywords : Mach-number shocks * generation
OECD category: Fluids and plasma physics (including surface physics)
Impact factor: 4.684, year: 2019
Method of publishing: Open access

In many natural phenomena in space (cosmic-rays, fast winds), non-thermal ion populations are produced, with wave-particle interactions in self-induced electromagnetic turbulence being suspected to be mediators. However, the processes by which the electromagnetic energy is bestowed upon the particles is debated, and in some cases requires field compression. Here we show that laboratory experiments using high-power lasers and external strong magnetic field can be used to infer magnetic field compression in the interpenetration of two collisionless, high-velocity (0.01-0.1c) quasi-neutral plasma flows. This is evidenced through observed plasma stagnation at the flows collision point, which Particle-in-Cell (PIC) simulations suggest to be the signature of magnetic field compression into a thin layer, followed by its dislocation into magnetic vortices. Acceleration of protons from the plasma collision is observed as well.
Permanent Link: http://hdl.handle.net/11104/0306606