Ultra intense laser/plasma interaction at normal incidence: Relativistic mirrors effects, high harmonics generation and absorption.

An analytical study of the relativistic interaction of a linearly-polarized laser-field of w frequency with highly overdense plasma is presented. Very intense high harmonics are generated produced by relativistic mirrors effects due to the relativistic electron plasma oscillation. Also, in agreement with 1D Particle-In-Cell Simulations (PICS), the model self-consistently explains the transition between the sheath inverse bremsstrahlung (SIB) absorption regime and the J×B heating (responsible for the 2w electron bunches), as well as the mean electron energy.

Two-dimensional plasma expansion in a magnetic nozzle: Separation due to electron inertia

A previous axisymmetric model of the supersonic expansion of a collisionless, hot plasma in a divergent magnetic nozzle is extended here in order to include electron-inertia effects. Up to dominant order on all components of the electron velocity, electron momentum equations still reduce to three conservation laws. Electron inertia leads to outward electron separation from the magnetic streamtubes. The progressive plasma filling of the adjacent vacuum region is consistent with electron-inertia being part of finite electron Larmor radius effects, which increase downstream and eventually demagnetize the plasma. Current ambipolarity is not fulfilled and ion separation can be either outwards or inwards of magnetic streamtubes, depending on their magnetization. Electron separation penalizes slightly the plume efficiency and is larger for plasma beams injected with large pressure gradients. An alternative nonzero electron-inertia model [E. Hooper, J. Propul. Power 9, 757 (1993)] based on cold plasmas and current ambipolarity, which predicts inwards electron separation, is discussed critically. A possible competition of the gyroviscous force with electron-inertia effects is commented briefly.

Ion correlations due to high-frequency electric field and their effect on the nonlinear plasma conductivity

The influence of a strong, high‐frequency electric field on the ion‐ion correlations in a fully ionized plasma is investigated in the limit of infinite ion mass, starting with the Bogoliubov‐Born‐Green‐Kirkwood‐Yvon hierarchy of equations; a significant departure from the thermal correlations is found. It is shown that the above effect may substantially modify earlier results on the nonlinear high‐frequency plasma conductivity.

Electrostatic plasma instabilities excited by a high‐frequency electric field

The electrostatic plasma waves excited by a uniform, alternating electric field of arbitrary intensity are studied on the basis of the Vlasov equation; their dispersion relation, which involves the determinant of either of two infinite matrices, is derived. For ω0 ≫ ωpi (ω0 being the applied frequency and ωpi the ion plasma frequency) the waves may be classified in two groups, each satisfying a simple condition; this allows writing the dispersion relation in closed form. Both groups coalesce (resonance) if (a) ω0  ≈  ωpe/r (r any integer) and (b) the wavenumber k is small. A nonoscillatory instability is found; its distinction from the DuBois‐Goldman instability and its physical origin are discussed. Conditions for its excitation (in particular, upper limits to ω0,k, and k⋅vE,vE being the field‐induced electron velocity), and simple equations for the growth rate are given off‐resonance and at ω0  ≈  ωpi. The dependence of both threshold and maximum growth rate on various parameters is discussed, and the results are compared with those of Silin and Nishikawa. The threshold at ω0  ≈  ωpi/r,r  ≠  1, is studied.

Far wake structure in rarefied plasma flows past charged bodies

The asymptotic structure of the far-wake behind a charged body in a rarefied plasma flow is investigated under the assumption of small ion-to-electron temperature ratio and of flow speed hypersonic with respect to the ions but not with respect to the electrons. It is found that waves are excited even if the flow is subacoustic (flow velocity less than the ion-acoustic speed). For both superacoustic and subacoustic velocities a steep wave front develops separating the weakly perturbed, quasineutral plasma ahead, from the region behind where ion waves appear. Near the axis a trailing front develops;the region between this and the axis is quasineutral for superacoustic speeds. The decay laws in all of these regions, the self-similar structure of the fronts and the general character of the waves are determined.The damping of the waves and special flow detail for bodies large and small compared with the Debye length are discussed. A nonlinear analysis of the leading wave front in superacoustic flow is carried out. A hyperacoustic equivalence principle is presented.

Dispersion relation for electron waves propagating in an isotropic plasma containing Maxwellian and suprathermal electrons

The paper discusses the dispersion relation for longitudinal electron waves propagating in a collisionless, homogeneous isotropic plasma, which contains both Maxwellian and suprathermal electrons. I t is found that the dispersion curve, known to have two separate branches for zero suprathermal energy spread,depends sensitively on this quantity. As the energy half-width of the suprathermal population increases, the branches approach each other until they touch at a connexion point, for a small critical value of that half-width. The topology of the dispersion curves is different for half-widths above and below critical; and this can affect the use of wave-propagation measurements as a diagnostic technique for the determination of the electron distribution function. Both the distance between the branches and spatial damping near the connexion frequency depend on the half-width, if below critical, and can be used to determine it. The theory is applied to experimental data.

Self-similar motion of laser fusion plasmas. Absorption in an unbounded plasma

The one-dimensional motion generated in a cold, infinite, uniform plasma of density na by the absorption, in a certain plane, of a linear pulse of energy per unit time and area = 4>0t/r, 0< t< r, is considered, the analysis allows for thermal conduction and viscosity of ions and electrons, their energy exchange, and an electron heat flux limiter The resulting motion is self-similar and governed by a single nondimensional parameter a«(n0 2T/0)2/3 Detailed asymptotic results are obtained for both a < l and a > l , the general behavior of the solution for arbitrary a is discussed The analysis can be extended to the case of a plasma initially occupying a half-space, and throws light on how to optimize the hydrodynamics of laser fusion plasmas Known approximate results corresponding to motion of a plasma submitted to constant irradiation (<()) are recovered in the present work under appropriate limiting processes

Application of laser-induced plasma spectroscopy to the measurement of transition probabilities of Ca I

We present improved experimental transition probabilities for the optical Ca I 4s4p-4s4d and 4s4p-4p2multiplets. The values were determined with an absolute uncertainty of 10%. Transition probabilities have been determined by the branching ratios from the measurement of relative line intensities emitted by laser-induced plasma (LIP). The line intensities were obtained with the target (leadcalcium) placed in argon atmosphere at 6 Torr, recorded at a 2.5 µs delay from the laser pulse, which provides appropriate measurement conditions, and analysed between 350.0 and 550.0 nm. They are measured when the plasma reaches local thermodynamic equilibrium (LTE). The plasma is characterized by electron temperature (T) of 11400 K and an electron number density (Ne) of 1.1 x 1016 cm-3. The influence self-absorption has been estimated for every line, and plasma homogeneity has been checked. The values obtained were compared with previous experimental values in the literature. The method for measurement of transition probabilities using laser-induced plasma as spectroscopic source has been checked.

Transition from isentropic to isothermal expansion in laser produced plasma

The transition that the expansion flow of laser-produced plasmas experiences when one moves from long, low intensity pulses (temperature vanishing at the isentropic plasma-vacuum front,lying at finite distance) to short, intense ones (non-zero, uniform temperature at the plasma-vacuum front, lying at infinity) is studied. For plznar geometry and lqge ion number Z, the transition occurs for dq5/dt=0.14(27/8)k712Z’1zn$/m4f, 12nK,,; mi, and K are laser intensity, critical density,ion mass, and Spitzer’s heat conduction coefficient. This result remains valid for finite Zit,h ough the numerical factor in d$/dt is different. Shorter wavelength lasers and higher 4 plasmas allow faster rising pulses below transition.

Resonant absorption in a plasma step profile

Resonant absorption of p-polarized light shined on a plane-layered plasma with a step profile, is discussed as a function of wavelength (or critical density n,) of the light: for simplicity the incidence angle is assumed small. If n, lies within or above the step, the absorption A is given by Ginzburg’s result modified by strong reflections at the foot and top of the step. The absorption above is total for particular values of nc and U. For n, crossing the top of the density step the absorption is not monotonical: it exhibits a minimum that vanishes for zero radius of curvature U there and zero collision frequency 1’ (A - Iln VI-’). The results are applied to the profile produced by irradiating a solid target with a high-intensity pulse that steepens the plasma by radiation pressure.

Magnetic and electric current morphoiogy in the plasma ejected by a laser-irradiated foil

A quasisteady model for the plasma ablated from a thick foil by a laser pulse, at low $lln $ and R /A i within a low, narrow range, is given (4, is absorbed intensity, /zL wavelength, R focalspot radius). An approximate analytical solution is given for the two-dimensional plasma dynamics. At large magnetic Reynolds number Rm, the morphology of the magnetic field shows features in agreement with recent results for high intensities. Current lines are open: electric current flows toward the spot near its axis, then turns and flows away. The efficiency of converting light energy into electric energy peaks at Rm- 1, both the validity of the model. and accuracy of the solution are discussed, The neighborhood of the spot boundary is analyzed in detail by extending classical Prandtl-Meyer results.

Current collection by an active spherical electrode in an unmagnetized plasma

A theoretical model for the steady-state response of anodic contactors that emit a plasma current Ii and collect electrons from a collisionless, unmagnetized plasma is presented. The use of a (kinetic) monoenergetic population for the attracted species, well known in passive probe theory, gives both accuracy and tractability to the theory. The monoenergetic population is proved to behave like an isentropic fluid with radial plus centripetal motion, allowing direct comparisons with ad hoc fluid models. Also, a modification of the original monoenergetic equations permits analysis of contactors operating in orbit-limited conditions. Besides that, the theory predicts that, only for plasma emissions above certain threshold current a presheath/double layer/core structure for the potential is formed (the core mode), while for emissions below that threshold, a plasma contactor behaves exactly as a positive-ion emitter with a presheath/sheath structure (the no-core mode). Ion emitters are studied as a particular case. Emphasis is placed on obtaining dimensionless charts and approximate asymptotic laws of the current-voltage characteristic.

Nonlocal electron heat relaxation in a plasma shock at arbitrary ionization number

A recently obtained nonlocal expression for the electron heat flux valid for arbitrary ionization numbers Z is used to study the structure of a plane shock wave in a fully ionized plasma. Nonlocal effects are only important in the foot of the electronic preheating region, where the electron temperature gradient is the steepest. The results are quantified as a function of a characteristic Knudsen number of that region. This work also generalizes to arbitrary values of Z previous results on plasma shock wave structure.

Electron current to a probe in a magnetized, collisional plasma

Collisional analysis of electron collection by a probe in a strongly magnetized, fully ionized plasma is carried out. A solution to the complete set of macroscopic equations with classical transport coefficients that is wholly consistent in the domain is determined; R and le are probe radius and electron gyroradius, respectively. If R2/le 2 is large compared with mi/3me probe large compared with ion gyroradius, ion–electron energy exchange—rather than electron heat diffusion—keeps electrons isothermal. For smaller probes at negative bias, however, electron cooling occurs in the plasma beyond the sheath, with a potential overshoot lying well away from it. The probe characteristic in the electron-retarding range may then mimic the characteristic for a two electron-temperature plasma and lead to an overestimate of electron temperature; the validity of these results for other transport models is discussed

Plasma kinetics issues in an ESA study for a plasma laboratory in space

A study supported by the European Space Agency (ESA), in the context of its General Studies Programme, performed an investigation of the possible use of space for studies in pure and applied plasma physics, in areas not traditionally covered by ‘space plasma physics’. A set of experiments have been identified that can potentially provide access to new phenomena and to allow advances in several fields of plasma science. These experiments concern phenomena on a spatial scale (101–104 m) intermediate between what is achievable on the ground and the usual solar system plasma observations. Detailed feasibility studies have been performed for three experiments: active magnetic experiments, largescale discharges and long tether–plasma interactions. The perspectives opened by these experiments are discussed for magnetic reconnection, instabilities, MHD turbulence, atomic excited states kinetics, weakly ionized plasmas,plasma diagnostics, artificial auroras and atmospheric studies. The discussion is also supported by results of numerical simulations and estimates.