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 and N. C. Woolsey
Additional contact information
E. R. Tubman: York Plasma Institute, Department of Physics, University of York
A. S. Joglekar: Gérard Mourou Center for Ultrafast Optical Science, University of Michigan
A. F. A. Bott: University of Oxford
M. Borghesi: School of Mathematics and Physics, Queen’s University Belfast
B. Coleman: School of Mathematics and Physics, Queen’s University Belfast
G. Cooper: AWE Aldermaston
C. N. Danson: Department of Physics, Imperial College London
P. Durey: York Plasma Institute, Department of Physics, University of York
J. M. Foster: AWE Aldermaston
P. Graham: AWE Aldermaston
G. Gregori: University of Oxford
E. T. Gumbrell: Department of Physics, Imperial College London
M. P. Hill: AWE Aldermaston
T. Hodge: School of Mathematics and Physics, Queen’s University Belfast
S. Kar: School of Mathematics and Physics, Queen’s University Belfast
R. J. Kingham: Department of Physics, Imperial College London
M. Read: York Plasma Institute, Department of Physics, University of York
C. P. Ridgers: York Plasma Institute, Department of Physics, University of York
J. Skidmore: AWE Aldermaston
C. Spindloe: Target Fabrication, Central Laser Facility, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory
A. G. R. Thomas: Gérard Mourou Center for Ultrafast Optical Science, University of Michigan
P. Treadwell: AWE Aldermaston
S. Wilson: York Plasma Institute, Department of Physics, University of York
L. Willingale: Gérard Mourou Center for Ultrafast Optical Science, University of Michigan
N. C. Woolsey: York Plasma Institute, Department of Physics, University of York

Nature Communications, 2021, vol. 12, issue 1, 1-9

Abstract: 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.

Date: 2021
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-20387-7

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