Microstructure formation in radially counterstreaming electron flows

Iñigo Gamiz, Lucas I and Ersfeld, Bernhard and Brunetti, Enrico and Yoffe, Samuel R and Cairns, R Alan and Noble, Adam and Holt, George K and Jaroszynski, Dino A (2021) Microstructure formation in radially counterstreaming electron flows. New Journal of Physics, 23 (4). 043017. ISSN 1367-2630 (https://doi.org/10.1088/1367-2630/abe8f6)

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Abstract

A theoretical model is developed to describe the formation of microstructures due to plasma streaming instabilities in radially convergent geometries. Microstructures in the form of radial spokes are found experimentally in laser wakefield accelerators. The eigenvalues of a set of coupled linear ordinary differential equations are obtained and the complex wavenumbers calculated to give the local growth rates. The predictions are confirmed using particle-in-cell (PIC) simulations carried out for two counter-propagating converging/diverging plasma annuli. The simulations consistently demonstrate unstable growth for interactions between two counterpropagating annuli with different number densities. The growth rates obtained from the PIC simulations agree well with the growth rates from the semi-analytical model. The theory presented in this paper can provide powerful insight into converging plasma beams found in space and laboratory scale plasma.

  • Item type:Article
    ID code:75615
    Dates:
    Date
    Event
    7 April 2021
    Published
    23 February 2021
    Published Online
    23 February 2021
    Accepted
    Subjects:Science > Physics
    Department:Faculty of Science > Physics
    Depositing user: Pure Administrator
    Date deposited:03 Mar 2021 12:38
    Last modified:12 Apr 2024 00:27
    Related URLs:
    URI:https://strathprints.strath.ac.uk/id/eprint/75615
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