Observations of pressure anisotropy effects within semi-collisional magnetized plasma bubbles

E. R. Tubman; A. S. Joglekar; A. F.A. Bott; M. Borghesi; B. Coleman; G. Cooper; C. N. Danson; P. Durey; J. M. Foster; P. Graham; G. Gregori; E. T. Gumbrell; M. P. Hill; T. Hodge; S. Kar; R. J. Kingham; M. Read; C. P. Ridgers; J. Skidmore; C. Spindloe; A. G.R. Thomas; P. Treadwell; S. Wilson; L. Willingale; N. C. Woolsey

doi:10.1038/s41467-020-20387-7

Observations of pressure anisotropy effects within semi-collisional magnetized plasma bubbles

E. R. Tubman^*, A. S. Joglekar, A. F.A. Bott, M. Borghesi, B. Coleman, G. Cooper, C. N. Danson, P. Durey, J. M. Foster, P. Graham, G. Gregori, E. T. Gumbrell, M. P. Hill, T. Hodge, S. Kar, R. J. Kingham, M. Read, C. P. Ridgers, J. Skidmore, C. SpindloeA. G.R. Thomas, P. Treadwell, S. Wilson, L. Willingale, N. C. Woolsey

^*Corresponding author for this work

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

Abstract

Magnetized plasma interactions are ubiquitous in astrophysical and laboratory plasmas. Various physical effects have been shown to be important within colliding plasma flows influenced by opposing magnetic fields, however, experimental verification of the mechanisms within the interaction region has remained elusive. Here we discuss a laser-plasma experiment whereby experimental results verify that Biermann battery generated magnetic fields are advected by Nernst flows and anisotropic pressure effects dominate these flows in a reconnection region. These fields are mapped using time-resolved proton probing in multiple directions. Various experimental, modelling and analytical techniques demonstrate the importance of anisotropic pressure in semi-collisional, high-β plasmas, causing a reduction in the magnitude of the reconnecting fields when compared to resistive processes. Anisotropic pressure dynamics are crucial in collisionless plasmas, but are often neglected in collisional plasmas. We show pressure anisotropy to be essential in maintaining the interaction layer, redistributing magnetic fields even for semi-collisional, high energy density physics (HEDP) regimes.

Original language	English
Article number	334
Number of pages	9
Journal	Nature Communications
Volume	12
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-020-20387-7
Publication status	Published - 12 Jan 2021

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Tubman, E. R., Joglekar, A. S., Bott, A. F. A., Borghesi, M., Coleman, B., Cooper, G., Danson, C. N., Durey, P., Foster, J. M., Graham, P., Gregori, G., Gumbrell, E. T., Hill, M. P., Hodge, T., Kar, S., Kingham, R. J., Read, M., Ridgers, C. P., Skidmore, J., ... Woolsey, N. C. (2021). Observations of pressure anisotropy effects within semi-collisional magnetized plasma bubbles. Nature Communications, 12(1), Article 334. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-020-20387-7

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title = "Observations of pressure anisotropy effects within semi-collisional magnetized plasma bubbles",

abstract = "Magnetized plasma interactions are ubiquitous in astrophysical and laboratory plasmas. Various physical effects have been shown to be important within colliding plasma flows influenced by opposing magnetic fields, however, experimental verification of the mechanisms within the interaction region has remained elusive. Here we discuss a laser-plasma experiment whereby experimental results verify that Biermann battery generated magnetic fields are advected by Nernst flows and anisotropic pressure effects dominate these flows in a reconnection region. These fields are mapped using time-resolved proton probing in multiple directions. Various experimental, modelling and analytical techniques demonstrate the importance of anisotropic pressure in semi-collisional, high-β plasmas, causing a reduction in the magnitude of the reconnecting fields when compared to resistive processes. Anisotropic pressure dynamics are crucial in collisionless plasmas, but are often neglected in collisional plasmas. We show pressure anisotropy to be essential in maintaining the interaction layer, redistributing magnetic fields even for semi-collisional, high energy density physics (HEDP) regimes.",

author = "Tubman, {E. R.} and Joglekar, {A. S.} and Bott, {A. F.A.} and M. Borghesi and B. Coleman and G. Cooper and Danson, {C. N.} and P. Durey and Foster, {J. M.} and P. Graham and G. Gregori and Gumbrell, {E. T.} and Hill, {M. P.} and T. Hodge and S. Kar and Kingham, {R. J.} and M. Read and Ridgers, {C. P.} and J. Skidmore and C. Spindloe and Thomas, {A. G.R.} and P. Treadwell and S. Wilson and L. Willingale and Woolsey, {N. C.}",

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Tubman, ER, Joglekar, AS, Bott, AFA, Borghesi, M, Coleman, B, Cooper, G, Danson, CN, Durey, P, Foster, JM, Graham, P, Gregori, G, Gumbrell, ET, Hill, MP, Hodge, T, Kar, S, Kingham, RJ, Read, M , Ridgers, CP, Skidmore, J, Spindloe, C, Thomas, AGR, Treadwell, P, Wilson, S, Willingale, L & Woolsey, NC 2021, 'Observations of pressure anisotropy effects within semi-collisional magnetized plasma bubbles', Nature Communications, vol. 12, no. 1, 334. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-020-20387-7

TY - JOUR

T1 - Observations of pressure anisotropy effects within semi-collisional magnetized plasma bubbles

AU - Tubman, E. R.

AU - Joglekar, A. S.

AU - Bott, A. F.A.

AU - Borghesi, M.

AU - Coleman, B.

AU - Cooper, G.

AU - Danson, C. N.

AU - Durey, P.

AU - Foster, J. M.

AU - Graham, P.

AU - Gregori, G.

AU - Gumbrell, E. T.

AU - Hill, M. P.

AU - Hodge, T.

AU - Kar, S.

AU - Kingham, R. J.

AU - Read, M.

AU - Ridgers, C. P.

AU - Skidmore, J.

AU - Spindloe, C.

AU - Thomas, A. G.R.

AU - Treadwell, P.

AU - Wilson, S.

AU - Willingale, L.

AU - Woolsey, N. C.

PY - 2021/1/12

Y1 - 2021/1/12

N2 - Magnetized plasma interactions are ubiquitous in astrophysical and laboratory plasmas. Various physical effects have been shown to be important within colliding plasma flows influenced by opposing magnetic fields, however, experimental verification of the mechanisms within the interaction region has remained elusive. Here we discuss a laser-plasma experiment whereby experimental results verify that Biermann battery generated magnetic fields are advected by Nernst flows and anisotropic pressure effects dominate these flows in a reconnection region. These fields are mapped using time-resolved proton probing in multiple directions. Various experimental, modelling and analytical techniques demonstrate the importance of anisotropic pressure in semi-collisional, high-β plasmas, causing a reduction in the magnitude of the reconnecting fields when compared to resistive processes. Anisotropic pressure dynamics are crucial in collisionless plasmas, but are often neglected in collisional plasmas. We show pressure anisotropy to be essential in maintaining the interaction layer, redistributing magnetic fields even for semi-collisional, high energy density physics (HEDP) regimes.

AB - Magnetized plasma interactions are ubiquitous in astrophysical and laboratory plasmas. Various physical effects have been shown to be important within colliding plasma flows influenced by opposing magnetic fields, however, experimental verification of the mechanisms within the interaction region has remained elusive. Here we discuss a laser-plasma experiment whereby experimental results verify that Biermann battery generated magnetic fields are advected by Nernst flows and anisotropic pressure effects dominate these flows in a reconnection region. These fields are mapped using time-resolved proton probing in multiple directions. Various experimental, modelling and analytical techniques demonstrate the importance of anisotropic pressure in semi-collisional, high-β plasmas, causing a reduction in the magnitude of the reconnecting fields when compared to resistive processes. Anisotropic pressure dynamics are crucial in collisionless plasmas, but are often neglected in collisional plasmas. We show pressure anisotropy to be essential in maintaining the interaction layer, redistributing magnetic fields even for semi-collisional, high energy density physics (HEDP) regimes.

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U2 - 10.1038/s41467-020-20387-7

DO - 10.1038/s41467-020-20387-7

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:85099202890

SN - 2041-1723

VL - 12

JO - Nature Communications

JF - Nature Communications

IS - 1

M1 - 334

ER -

Observations of pressure anisotropy effects within semi-collisional magnetized plasma bubbles

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