The Weibel instability in a circular rarefaction wave

• Instabilities behind the front of a cylindrically expanding plasma have been investigated experimentally and with a particle-in-cell simulation. Tubelike filamentary structures form behind the front of a plasma created by irradiating wire targets with a ps-duration and intense ( 1019 W cm-2) laser pulse. These filaments exhibit coherent magnetic fields with a remarkable stability ( 103 / wp: plasma frequency). PIC simulations indicate that an instability driven by a thermal anisotropy of the electron population is the cause. This instability requires a plasma density gradient and hot electrons. It can thus contribute to the generation of strongsustained magnetic fields in astrophysical jets.

Ämnesord

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Fysik (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Physical Sciences (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

plasma physics

laser plasma

Publikations- och innehållstyp

ref (ämneskategori)

kon (ämneskategori)