Work

Measurement of field generation at plasma interfaces due to fast electron beam currents from high-intensity laser–plasma interactions

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: The OMEGA EP laser at the Laboratory for Laser Energetics was used to investigate high-power, relativistically intense laser interactions with near-critical density plasmas produced using low-density CH foam targets. A proton probe beam diagnostic, sensitive to the quasi-static electric and magnetic fields in the target, measured plasma-generated field structures along the foam interface with an aluminum target holder. Many discrete field structure sites were observed, suggesting filamentation of the electron beam during propagation through the plasma and magnetic field generation enhancement at plasma interfaces. Particle-in-cell simulations of the interaction were also performed, showing similar effects.

Source: Physics of Plasmas

DOI: 10.1063/5.0245532