We report on experimental measurements of how an externally imposed magnetic field affects plasma heating by kJ-class, nanosecond laser pulses. The experiments reported here took place in gas cells analogous to magnetized liner inertial fusion targets. We observed significant changes in laser propagation and energy deposition scale lengths when a 12T external magnetic field was imposed in the gas cell. We find evidence that the axial magnetic field reduces radial electron thermal transport, narrows the width of the heated plasma, and increases the axial plasma length. Reduced thermal conductivity increases radial thermal gradients. This enhances radial hydrodynamic expansion and subsequent thermal self-focusing. Our experiments and supporting 3D simulations in helium demonstrate that magnetization leads to higher thermal gradients, higher peak temperatures, more rapid blast wave development, and beam focusing with an applied field of 12T.
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December 2021
Research Article|
December 01 2021
Magnetic field effects on laser energy deposition and filamentation in magneto-inertial fusion relevant plasmas
S. M. Lewis
;
S. M. Lewis
a)
1
University of Texas at Austin, Center for High Energy Density Sciences, C1510, 2515 Speedway, University of Texas at Austin
, Austin, Texas 78712, USA
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M. R. Weis
;
M. R. Weis
2
Sandia National Laboratories
, 1515 Eubank SE, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87123, USA
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C. S. Speas;
C. S. Speas
2
Sandia National Laboratories
, 1515 Eubank SE, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87123, USA
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M. Kimmel;
M. Kimmel
2
Sandia National Laboratories
, 1515 Eubank SE, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87123, USA
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R. D. Bengtson
;
R. D. Bengtson
1
University of Texas at Austin, Center for High Energy Density Sciences, C1510, 2515 Speedway, University of Texas at Austin
, Austin, Texas 78712, USA
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B. Breizman
;
B. Breizman
3
Institute for Fusion Studies, Department of Physics, C1600, 2515 Speedway, University of Texas at Austin
, Austin, Texas 78712, USA
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M. Geissel
;
M. Geissel
2
Sandia National Laboratories
, 1515 Eubank SE, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87123, USA
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M. R. Gomez
;
M. R. Gomez
2
Sandia National Laboratories
, 1515 Eubank SE, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87123, USA
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A. J. Harvey-Thompson
;
A. J. Harvey-Thompson
2
Sandia National Laboratories
, 1515 Eubank SE, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87123, USA
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J. Kellogg;
J. Kellogg
2
Sandia National Laboratories
, 1515 Eubank SE, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87123, USA
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J. Long;
J. Long
2
Sandia National Laboratories
, 1515 Eubank SE, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87123, USA
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Q. Looker
;
Q. Looker
2
Sandia National Laboratories
, 1515 Eubank SE, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87123, USA
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H. J. Quevedo
;
H. J. Quevedo
1
University of Texas at Austin, Center for High Energy Density Sciences, C1510, 2515 Speedway, University of Texas at Austin
, Austin, Texas 78712, USA
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P. Rambo;
P. Rambo
2
Sandia National Laboratories
, 1515 Eubank SE, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87123, USA
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N. R. Riley;
N. R. Riley
4
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratories
, 7000 East Ave, Livermore, California 94550, USA
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J. Schwarz;
J. Schwarz
2
Sandia National Laboratories
, 1515 Eubank SE, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87123, USA
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J. Shores;
J. Shores
2
Sandia National Laboratories
, 1515 Eubank SE, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87123, USA
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J. Stahoviak;
J. Stahoviak
2
Sandia National Laboratories
, 1515 Eubank SE, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87123, USA
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K. Struve;
K. Struve
2
Sandia National Laboratories
, 1515 Eubank SE, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87123, USA
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D. J. Ampleford
;
D. J. Ampleford
2
Sandia National Laboratories
, 1515 Eubank SE, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87123, USA
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J. L. Porter;
J. L. Porter
2
Sandia National Laboratories
, 1515 Eubank SE, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87123, USA
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T. Ditmire
T. Ditmire
a)
1
University of Texas at Austin, Center for High Energy Density Sciences, C1510, 2515 Speedway, University of Texas at Austin
, Austin, Texas 78712, USA
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S. M. Lewis
1,a)
M. R. Weis
2
C. S. Speas
2
M. Kimmel
2
R. D. Bengtson
1
B. Breizman
3
M. Geissel
2
M. R. Gomez
2
A. J. Harvey-Thompson
2
J. Kellogg
2
J. Long
2
Q. Looker
2
H. J. Quevedo
1
P. Rambo
2
N. R. Riley
4
J. Schwarz
2
J. Shores
2
J. Stahoviak
2
K. Struve
2
D. J. Ampleford
2
J. L. Porter
2
T. Ditmire
1,a)
1
University of Texas at Austin, Center for High Energy Density Sciences, C1510, 2515 Speedway, University of Texas at Austin
, Austin, Texas 78712, USA
2
Sandia National Laboratories
, 1515 Eubank SE, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87123, USA
3
Institute for Fusion Studies, Department of Physics, C1600, 2515 Speedway, University of Texas at Austin
, Austin, Texas 78712, USA
4
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratories
, 7000 East Ave, Livermore, California 94550, USA
Phys. Plasmas 28, 122701 (2021)
Article history
Received:
September 29 2020
Accepted:
September 10 2021
Citation
S. M. Lewis, M. R. Weis, C. S. Speas, M. Kimmel, R. D. Bengtson, B. Breizman, M. Geissel, M. R. Gomez, A. J. Harvey-Thompson, J. Kellogg, J. Long, Q. Looker, H. J. Quevedo, P. Rambo, N. R. Riley, J. Schwarz, J. Shores, J. Stahoviak, K. Struve, D. J. Ampleford, J. L. Porter, T. Ditmire; Magnetic field effects on laser energy deposition and filamentation in magneto-inertial fusion relevant plasmas. Phys. Plasmas 1 December 2021; 28 (12): 122701. https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0023601
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