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Electron energization during merging of self-magnetized, high-beta, laser-produced plasmas
Aug 5, 2021. Publications
Abstract
Electron energization during merging of magnetized plasmas is studied using the OMEGA and OMEGA EP laser facilities by colliding two plasma plumes, each containing a Biermann-battery self-generated magnetic field. Two neighbouring plasma plumes are produced by intense laser beams, and the anti-parallel Biermann fields merge and reconnect in the process of the plumes’ expansion and collision. To isolate the merging as an acceleration source, the electron energy spectra obtained from two-plume collision shots are compared with the spectra from single-plume shots. Single-plume shots exhibit an energized electron tail with energies up to ∼250 keV. The electrons in merging experiments are additionally accelerated by ∼50--100 keV compared to single-plume shots.
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