Time-resolved X-ray imaging of the current filamentation instability in solid-density plasmas
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: The streaming of energetic charged particles can magnetize astrophysical and laboratory plasmas via the current filamentation instability. Despite its importance, the experimental characterization of this instability has remained a challenge. Here, we report an experiment combining a high-intensity optical laser with a high-brightness X-ray free electron laser that successfully images the instability in solid-density plasmas with 200 nm spatial and 50 fs temporal resolution. We characterize the development of μm-scale filamentary structures and their evolution over tens of picoseconds through a non-linear merging process. The measured plasma density modulations and long merging time reveal the critical importance of space-charge effects and ion motion on this electron-driven instability. Supporting theoretical analysis and kinetic simulations help distinguish the relative role of space-charge and resistive effects. Our findings indicate that magnetic fields on the order of 10 megagauss are produced, with important implications for transport and radiation emission of energetic particles in plasmas.
Source: Nature Communications
Authors: Christopher Schoenwaelder, Alexis Marret, Stefan Assenbaum, Chandra B. Curry, Eric Cunningham, Gilliss Dyer, Stefan Funk, Griffin D. Glenn, Sebastian Goede, Dimitri Khaghani, Martin Rehwald, Ulrich Schramm, Franziska Treffert, Milenko Vescovi, Karl Zeil, Siegfried H. Glenzer, Frederico Fiuza, Maxence Gauthier
Institutions: Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Technische Universität Dresden, University of Alberta, Linac Coherent Light Source, Stanford University, European X-Ray Free-Electron Laser, Technische Universität Darmstadt, University of Lisbon, Instituto Superior Técnico, Instituto de Plasmas e Fusão Nuclear
Language: English
Subfield: Nuclear and High Energy Physics
Field: Physics and Astronomy
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $6,990
Funders: National Science Foundation, U.S. Department of Energy, National Energy Research Scientific Computing Center, Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad, Office of Science, National Nuclear Security Administration, Fusion Energy Sciences, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, HORIZON EUROPE European Research Council
Awards: G1229526393, G22000355, G2371548206, G262532246, G2678272954, G303061748, G4022702638, G4066647835, G4235786860, G4388078820, G4697624099, G4927892525, G495301720, G498139845, G5570207115, SSAA MANAGEMENT OF STEWARDSHIP SCIENCE GRADUATE FELLOWSHIP AND LABORATORY RESIDENCY GRADUATE FELLOWSHIP PROGRAMS, G6109272482, NSF-BSF: Ultrafast Laser-Electron Heating for Tailoring the Emittance and Charge of High-Energy Proton Beams, Extreme Particle Acceleration in Shocks: from the laboratory to astrophysics, G767720583, G8382000481, G8930512735, G969889393
OpenAlex ID: W7119650070