Kilotesla plasmoid formation by a trapped relativistic laser beam

Area of Science:

• Plasma Physics
• Laser-Plasma Interactions
• Magnetohydrodynamics

Background:

• Generating strong magnetic fields is crucial for understanding plasma behavior.
• Previous research explored magnetic field generation in plasmas, but challenges remain in achieving high strengths and controlled structures.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the generation of strong quasistationary magnetic fields in hollow targets using intense laser pulses.
• To characterize the resulting magnetized plasma structures and their decay dynamics.
• To explore the influence of interaction parameters on plasmoid evolution.

Main Methods:

• Utilizing a relativistically intense picosecond laser pulse interacting with hollow targets featuring curved internal surfaces.
• Conducting experimental measurements to observe and quantify magnetic field strength and plasma structures.
• Performing numerical simulations to understand the underlying physics of magnetic field generation and plasmoid dynamics.

Main Results:

• Experimental evidence of quasistationary, strongly magnetized plasma structures.
• Observed magnetic field strengths on the kilotesla scale.
• Plasma structures decay on a timescale of approximately one hundred picoseconds.
• Numerical simulations highlighted the significance of transient processes and identified fast/slow plasmoid evolution regimes.

Conclusions:

• The study successfully demonstrates the generation of strong magnetic fields in laser-driven hollow targets.
• The findings reveal the formation and decay of magnetized plasma structures with potential for future applications.
• The research provides insights into the dynamics of laser-induced magnetic fields and plasmoids.