Dense plasma heating by crossing relativistic electron beams

Ratan, N. and Sircombe, N. J. and Ceurvorst, L. and Sadler, J. and Kasim, M. F. and Holloway, J. and Levy, M. C. and Trines, R. and Bingham, R. and Norreys, P. A. (2017) Dense plasma heating by crossing relativistic electron beams. Physical Review E, 95. 013211. ISSN 2470-0053 (https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.95.013211)

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Abstract

Here we investigate, using relativistic fluid theory and Vlasov-Maxwell simulations, the local heating of a dense plasma by two crossing electron beams. Heating occurs as an instability of the electron beams drives Langmuir waves, which couple nonlinearly into damped ion-acoustic waves. Simulations show a factor 2.8 increase in electron kinetic energy with a coupling efficiency of 18%. Our results support applications to the production of warm dense matter and as a driver for inertial fusion plasmas.