Structure and dynamics of colliding plasma jets.
Monoenergetic-proton radiographs of laser-generated, high-Mach-number plasma jets colliding at various angles shed light on the structures and dynamics of these collisions. The observations compare favorably with results from 2D hydrodynamic simulations of multistream plasma jets, and also with results from an analytic treatment of electron flow and magnetic field advection. In collisions of two noncollinear jets, the observed flow structure is similar to the analytic model's prediction of a characteristic feature with a narrow structure pointing in one direction and a much thicker one pointing in the opposite direction. Spontaneous magnetic fields, largely azimuthal around the colliding jets and generated by the well-known ∇T(e)×∇n(e) Biermann battery effect near the periphery of the laser spots, are demonstrated to be "frozen in" the plasma (due to high magnetic Reynolds number Re(M)∼5×10(4)) and advected along the jet streamlines of the electron flow. These studies provide novel insight into the interactions and dynamics of colliding plasma jets.
Plasma Science and Fusion Center, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA.
C K
CK
Li
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California 94550, USA.
D D
DD
Ryutov
Laboratory for Laser Energetics, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York 14623, USA.
S X
SX
Hu
Plasma Science and Fusion Center, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA.
M J
MJ
Rosenberg
Plasma Science and Fusion Center, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA.
A B
AB
Zylstra
Plasma Science and Fusion Center, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA.
F H
FH
Séguin
Plasma Science and Fusion Center, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA.
J A
JA
Frenje
Plasma Science and Fusion Center, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA.
D T
DT
Casey
Plasma Science and Fusion Center, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA.
M Gatu
MG
Johnson
Plasma Science and Fusion Center, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA.
M J-E
MJ
Manuel
Plasma Science and Fusion Center, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA.
H G
HG
Rinderknecht
Plasma Science and Fusion Center, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA.
R D
RD
Petrasso
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California 94550, USA.
P A
PA
Amendt
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California 94550, USA.
H S
HS
Park
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California 94550, USA.
B A
BA
Remington
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California 94550, USA.
S C
SC
Wilks
Laboratory for Laser Energetics, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York 14623, USA.
R
R
Betti
Laboratory for Laser Energetics, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York 14623, USA.
D H
DH
Froula
Laboratory for Laser Energetics, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York 14623, USA.
J P
JP
Knauer
Laboratory for Laser Energetics, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York 14623, USA.
D D
DD
Meyerhofer
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA.
R P
RP
Drake
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA.
C C
CC
Kuranz
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA.
R
R
Young
Laboratoire pour l'Utilisation des Lasers Intenses, UMR 7605, CNRS-CEA-Université Paris VI-Ecole Polytechnique, 91128 Palaiseau Cedex, France.
M
M
Koenig