The inadequacy of a magnetohydrodynamic approach to the Biermann battery

TY - JOUR

T1 - The inadequacy of a magnetohydrodynamic approach to the Biermann battery

AU - Ridgers, C. P.

AU - Arran, C.

AU - Bissell, J. J.

AU - Kingham, R. J.

PY - 2021/1/25

Y1 - 2021/1/25

N2 - Magnetic fields can be generated in plasmas by the Biermann battery when the electric field produced by the electron pressure gradient has a curl. The commonly employed magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) model of the Biermann battery breaks down when the electron distribution function is distorted away from Maxwellian. Using both MHD and kinetic simulations of a laser-plasma interaction relevant to inertial confinement fusion we have shown that this distortion can reduce the Biermann-producing electric field by around 50%. More importantly, the use of a flux limiter in an MHD treatment to deal with the effect of the non-Maxwellian electron distribution on electron thermal transport leads to a completely unphysical prediction of the Biermann-producing electric field and so results in erroneous predictions for the generated magnetic field. This article is part of a discussion meeting issue 'Prospects for high gain inertial fusion energy (part 2)'.

AB - Magnetic fields can be generated in plasmas by the Biermann battery when the electric field produced by the electron pressure gradient has a curl. The commonly employed magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) model of the Biermann battery breaks down when the electron distribution function is distorted away from Maxwellian. Using both MHD and kinetic simulations of a laser-plasma interaction relevant to inertial confinement fusion we have shown that this distortion can reduce the Biermann-producing electric field by around 50%. More importantly, the use of a flux limiter in an MHD treatment to deal with the effect of the non-Maxwellian electron distribution on electron thermal transport leads to a completely unphysical prediction of the Biermann-producing electric field and so results in erroneous predictions for the generated magnetic field. This article is part of a discussion meeting issue 'Prospects for high gain inertial fusion energy (part 2)'.

KW - high intensity laser

KW - inertial confinement fusion

KW - magnetic field

KW - plasma

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85097266647&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1098/rsta.2020.0017

DO - 10.1098/rsta.2020.0017

M3 - Article

C2 - 33280564

AN - SCOPUS:85097266647

SN - 1364-503X

VL - 379

JO - Philosophical transactions. Series A, Mathematical, physical, and engineering sciences

JF - Philosophical transactions. Series A, Mathematical, physical, and engineering sciences

IS - 2189

M1 - 20200017

ER -