Characterization of single and colliding laser-produced plasma bubbles using Thomson scattering and proton radiography

• Main Authors: Rosenberg, Michael Jonathan (Contributor), Ross, J. S. (Author), Li, C. K. (Contributor), Town, R. P. J. (Author), Seguin, Fredrick Hampton (Contributor), Frenje, Johan A. (Contributor), Froula, D. H. (Author), Petrasso, Richard D. (Contributor)
• Other Authors: Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Physics (Contributor), Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Plasma Science and Fusion Center (Contributor)
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: American Physical Society, 2013-02-15T14:51:10Z.
• Subjects: Article
• Online Access: Get fulltext

Time-resolved measurements of electron and ion temperatures using Thomson scattering have been combined with proton radiography data for comprehensive characterization of individual laser-produced plasma bubbles or the interaction of bubble pairs, where reconnection of azimuthal magnetic fields occurs. Measurements of ion and electron temperatures agree with lasnex simulations of single plasma bubbles, which include the physics of magnetic fields. There is negligible difference in temperatures between a single plasma bubble and the interaction region of bubble pairs, although the ion temperature may be slightly higher due to the collision of expanding plasmas. These results are consistent with reconnection in a β∼8 plasma, where the release of magnetic energy (<5% of the electron thermal energy) does not appreciably affect the hydrodynamics.
United States. Dept. of Energy (Grant DEFG52- 09NA29553)
National Laser User's Facility (Grant DE-NA0000877)
University of Rochester. Laboratory for Laser Energetics (Grant 414-090-G)
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (Grant B580243)