Simulation of heating-compressed fast-ignition cores by petawatt laser-generated electrons.
We report on unique particle-in-cell simulations to understand the relativistic electron beam thermalization and subsequent heating of highly compressed plasmas. The simulations yield heated core parameters in good agreement with the GEKKO-PW experimental measurements, given reasonable assumptions of laser-to-electron coupling efficiency and the distribution function of laser-produced electrons. The classical range of the hot electrons exceeds the mass density-core diameter product rhoL by a factor of several. Anomalous stopping appears to be present and is created by the growth and saturation of an electromagnetic filamentation mode that generates a strong back-EMF impeding hot electrons on the injection side of the density maxima.
Campbell
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Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87185, USA.
Kodama
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R
Mehlhorn
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Tanaka
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KA
Welch
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DR