Biermann-Battery-Driven Magnetized Collisionless Shock Precursors in Laser-Produced Plasmas

T. M. Johnson; G. D. Sutcliffe; J. A. Pearcy; A. Birkel; G. Rigon; N. V. Kabadi; B. Lahmann; P. J. Adrian; B. L. Reichelt; J. H. Kunimune; S. G. Dannhoff; M. Cufari; C. K. Li; F. Tsung; H. Chen; J. Katz; V. T. Tikhonchuk

doi:10.1103/PhysRevLett.134.125101

Biermann-Battery-Driven Magnetized Collisionless Shock Precursors in Laser-Produced Plasmas

T. M. Johnson
, G. D. Sutcliffe
, J. A. Pearcy
, A. Birkel
, G. Rigon
, N. V. Kabadi
, B. Lahmann
, P. J. Adrian
, B. L. Reichelt
, J. H. Kunimune
, S. G. Dannhoff
, M. Cufari
, C. K. Li
, F. Tsung
, H. Chen
, J. Katz
, V. T. Tikhonchuk

Plasma Science and Fusion Center
Department of Physics and Astronomy
University of California, Los Angeles
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
University of Rochester Laboratory for Laser Energetics
CELIA, Université Bordeaux i, UMR 5107 (CNRS, Bordeaux 1, CEA)
ELI-Beamlines

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

This Letter reports the first complete observation of magnetized collisionless shock precursors formed through the compression of Biermann-battery magnetic fields in laser produced plasmas. At OMEGA, lasers produce a supersonic CH plasma flow which is magnetized with Biermann-battery magnetic fields. The plasma flow collides with an unmagnetized hydrogen gas jet plasma to create a magnetized shock precursor. The situation where the flowing plasma carries the magnetic field is similar to the Venusian bow shock. Imaging 2ω Thomson scattering confirms that the interaction is collisionless and shows density and temperature jumps. Proton radiographs have regions of strong deflections and FLASH magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) simulations show the presence of Biermann fields in the Thomson scattering region. Electrons are accelerated to energies of up to 100 keV in a power-law spectrum. OSIRIS particle-in-cell (PIC) simulations, initialized with measured parameters, show the formation of a magnetized shock precursor and corroborate the experimental observables.

Original language	English
Article number	125101
Journal	Physical Review Letters
Volume	134
Issue number	12
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.134.125101
Publication status	Published - 28 Mar 2025
Externally published	Yes

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Johnson, T. M., Sutcliffe, G. D., Pearcy, J. A., Birkel, A., Rigon, G., Kabadi, N. V., Lahmann, B., Adrian, P. J., Reichelt, B. L., Kunimune, J. H., Dannhoff, S. G., Cufari, M., Li, C. K., Tsung, F., Chen, H., Katz, J., & Tikhonchuk, V. T. (2025). Biermann-Battery-Driven Magnetized Collisionless Shock Precursors in Laser-Produced Plasmas. Physical Review Letters, 134(12), Article 125101. https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.134.125101

@article{a2b3338a8a4c49f4b2059911a4c1a0f8,

title = "Biermann-Battery-Driven Magnetized Collisionless Shock Precursors in Laser-Produced Plasmas",

abstract = "This Letter reports the first complete observation of magnetized collisionless shock precursors formed through the compression of Biermann-battery magnetic fields in laser produced plasmas. At OMEGA, lasers produce a supersonic CH plasma flow which is magnetized with Biermann-battery magnetic fields. The plasma flow collides with an unmagnetized hydrogen gas jet plasma to create a magnetized shock precursor. The situation where the flowing plasma carries the magnetic field is similar to the Venusian bow shock. Imaging 2ω Thomson scattering confirms that the interaction is collisionless and shows density and temperature jumps. Proton radiographs have regions of strong deflections and FLASH magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) simulations show the presence of Biermann fields in the Thomson scattering region. Electrons are accelerated to energies of up to 100 keV in a power-law spectrum. OSIRIS particle-in-cell (PIC) simulations, initialized with measured parameters, show the formation of a magnetized shock precursor and corroborate the experimental observables.",

author = "Johnson, \{T. M.\} and Sutcliffe, \{G. D.\} and Pearcy, \{J. A.\} and A. Birkel and G. Rigon and Kabadi, \{N. V.\} and B. Lahmann and Adrian, \{P. J.\} and Reichelt, \{B. L.\} and Kunimune, \{J. H.\} and Dannhoff, \{S. G.\} and M. Cufari and Li, \{C. K.\} and F. Tsung and H. Chen and J. Katz and Tikhonchuk, \{V. T.\}",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2025 American Physical Society.",

year = "2025",

month = mar,

day = "28",

doi = "10.1103/PhysRevLett.134.125101",

language = "English",

volume = "134",

journal = "Physical Review Letters",

issn = "0031-9007",

publisher = "American Physical Society",

number = "12",

}

Johnson, TM, Sutcliffe, GD, Pearcy, JA, Birkel, A, Rigon, G, Kabadi, NV, Lahmann, B, Adrian, PJ, Reichelt, BL, Kunimune, JH, Dannhoff, SG, Cufari, M, Li, CK, Tsung, F, Chen, H, Katz, J & Tikhonchuk, VT 2025, 'Biermann-Battery-Driven Magnetized Collisionless Shock Precursors in Laser-Produced Plasmas', Physical Review Letters, vol. 134, no. 12, 125101. https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.134.125101

TY - JOUR

T1 - Biermann-Battery-Driven Magnetized Collisionless Shock Precursors in Laser-Produced Plasmas

AU - Johnson, T. M.

AU - Sutcliffe, G. D.

AU - Pearcy, J. A.

AU - Birkel, A.

AU - Rigon, G.

AU - Kabadi, N. V.

AU - Lahmann, B.

AU - Adrian, P. J.

AU - Reichelt, B. L.

AU - Kunimune, J. H.

AU - Dannhoff, S. G.

AU - Cufari, M.

AU - Li, C. K.

AU - Tsung, F.

AU - Chen, H.

AU - Katz, J.

AU - Tikhonchuk, V. T.

PY - 2025/3/28

Y1 - 2025/3/28

N2 - This Letter reports the first complete observation of magnetized collisionless shock precursors formed through the compression of Biermann-battery magnetic fields in laser produced plasmas. At OMEGA, lasers produce a supersonic CH plasma flow which is magnetized with Biermann-battery magnetic fields. The plasma flow collides with an unmagnetized hydrogen gas jet plasma to create a magnetized shock precursor. The situation where the flowing plasma carries the magnetic field is similar to the Venusian bow shock. Imaging 2ω Thomson scattering confirms that the interaction is collisionless and shows density and temperature jumps. Proton radiographs have regions of strong deflections and FLASH magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) simulations show the presence of Biermann fields in the Thomson scattering region. Electrons are accelerated to energies of up to 100 keV in a power-law spectrum. OSIRIS particle-in-cell (PIC) simulations, initialized with measured parameters, show the formation of a magnetized shock precursor and corroborate the experimental observables.

AB - This Letter reports the first complete observation of magnetized collisionless shock precursors formed through the compression of Biermann-battery magnetic fields in laser produced plasmas. At OMEGA, lasers produce a supersonic CH plasma flow which is magnetized with Biermann-battery magnetic fields. The plasma flow collides with an unmagnetized hydrogen gas jet plasma to create a magnetized shock precursor. The situation where the flowing plasma carries the magnetic field is similar to the Venusian bow shock. Imaging 2ω Thomson scattering confirms that the interaction is collisionless and shows density and temperature jumps. Proton radiographs have regions of strong deflections and FLASH magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) simulations show the presence of Biermann fields in the Thomson scattering region. Electrons are accelerated to energies of up to 100 keV in a power-law spectrum. OSIRIS particle-in-cell (PIC) simulations, initialized with measured parameters, show the formation of a magnetized shock precursor and corroborate the experimental observables.

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105000972689

U2 - 10.1103/PhysRevLett.134.125101

DO - 10.1103/PhysRevLett.134.125101

M3 - Article

C2 - 40215524

AN - SCOPUS:105000972689

SN - 0031-9007

VL - 134

JO - Physical Review Letters

JF - Physical Review Letters

IS - 12

M1 - 125101

ER -

Biermann-Battery-Driven Magnetized Collisionless Shock Precursors in Laser-Produced Plasmas

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