Laser-driven platform for generation and characterization of strong quasi-static magnetic fields

By J. Santos, M. Bailly-Grandvaux, L. Giuffrida, P. Forestier-Colleoni, S. Fujioka, Zhe Zhang, P. Korneev, R. Bouillaud, S. Dorard, D. Batani and 24 more. 2015

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Quasi-static magnetic-fields up to 800 T are generated in the interaction of intense laser pulses (500 J, 1 ns, 10 17 W cm - 2 ?> ) with capacitor-coil targets of different materials. The reproducible magnetic-field peak and rise-time, consistent with the laser pulse duration, were accurately inferred from measurements with GHz-bandwidth inductor pickup coils (B-dot probes). Results from Faraday rotation of polarized optical laser light and deflectometry of energetic proton beams are consistent with the B-dot probe measurements at the early stages of the target charging, up to t ≈ 0.35 ?> ns, and then are disturbed by radiation and plasma effects. The field has a dipole-like distribution over a characteristic volume of 1 mm3, which is consistent with theoretical expectations. These results demonstrate a very efficient conversion of the laser energy into magnetic fields, thus establishing a robust laser-driven platform for reproducible, well characterized, generation of quasi-static magnetic fields at the kT-level, as well as for magnetization and accurate probing of high-energy-density samples driven by secondary powerful laser or particle beams.

Subfields: Geophysics, Nuclear and High Energy Physics

View Paper: https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/eb37359f97f37e8cd06a2061e1c10a3640ed2f5b