Inefficient magnetic-field amplification in supersonic laser-plasma turbulence

by Archie F. Bott (Princeton University)

Tuesday 8 Sept 2020, 15:00 → 16:00 Europe/Stockholm

https://stockholmuniversity.zoom.us/j/940229961

https://arxiv.org/abs/2008.06594

We report a laser-plasma experiment that was carried out at the LMJ-PETAL facility and realized the first magnetized, turbulent, supersonic plasma with a large magnetic Reynolds number (Rm≈45) in the laboratory. Initial seed magnetic fields were amplified, but only moderately so, and did not become dynamically significant. A notable absence of magnetic energy at scales smaller than the outer scale of the turbulent cascade was also observed. Our results support the notion that moderately supersonic, low-magnetic-Prandtl-number plasma turbulence is inefficient at amplifying magnetic fields.