Vlasov simulation of laser-driven shock acceleration and ion turbulence
Year: 2016
Authors: Grassi A., Fedeli L., Sgattoni A., Macchi A.
Autors Affiliation: Dipartimento di Fisica Enrico Fermi, Universita di Pisa, Largo Bruno Pontecorvo 3, Pisa, I-56127, Italy; LULI, University Pierre et Marie Curie, Ycole Polytechnique, Paris, France; Istituto Nazionale di Ottica, Consiglio Nazionale Delle Ricerche (CNR/INO), U.o.s. Adriano Gozzini, Pisa, Italy
Abstract: We present a Vlasov, i.e. a kinetic Eulerian simulation study of nonlinear collisionless ion-acoustic shocks and solitons excited by an intense laser interacting with an overdense plasma. The use of the Vlasov code avoids problems with low particle statistics and allows a validation of particle-in-cell results. A simple, original correction to the splitting method for the numerical integration of the Vlasov equation has been implemented in order to ensure the charge conservation in the relativistic regime. We show that the ion distribution is affected by the development of a turbulence driven by the relativistic ‘fast’ electron bunches generated at the laser-plasma interaction surface. This leads to the onset of ion reflection at the shock front in an initially cold plasma where only soliton solutions without ion reflection are expected to propagate. We give a simple analytical model to describe the onset of the turbulence as a nonlinear coupling of the ion density with the fast electron currents, taking the pulsed nature of the relativistic electron bunches into account.
Journal/Review: PLASMA PHYSICS AND CONTROLLED FUSION
Volume: 58 (3) Pages from: 034021-1 to: 034021-9
KeyWords: Vlasov simulation; collisionless shock waves; laser-plasma interactions; ion acceleration; DOI: 10.1088/0741-3335/58/3/034021Citations: 14data from “WEB OF SCIENCE” (of Thomson Reuters) are update at: 2024-04-21References taken from IsiWeb of Knowledge: (subscribers only)Connecting to view paper tab on IsiWeb: Click hereConnecting to view citations from IsiWeb: Click here