Evolution of relativistic electron vortices in laser plasmas

Kirill V. Lezhnin, Alexey R. Kniazev, Sergei V. Soloviev, Fedor F. Kamenets, Stefan A. Weber, Georg Korn, Timur Zh Esirkepov, Sergei V. Bulanov

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

2 Scopus citations

Abstract

Electron vortices appear in the wake of a finite length laser pulse propogating in the underdense plasma. Usually they form two chains of vortices with opposite signs of the magnetic fields locked inside an electron cavity. Using 2D PIC simulations, we discuss the effects of evolution of single and binary electron vortices. Single electron vortices, though being in a quasistationary state on electron timescales, evolve on ion timescales, leading to anisotropic multishell ion motion. Binary electron vortices may be subject to complex motions, which can be described by the point-vortex solutions of Hasegawa-Mima equation. When the finite radius effects come into play, we observe effects as magnetic field annihilation with the subsequent fast electron bunch generation and secondary vortex formation.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationResearch Using Extreme Light
Subtitle of host publicationEntering New Frontiers with Petawatt-Class Lasers III
EditorsGeorg Korn, Luis O. Silva
PublisherSPIE
ISBN (Electronic)9781510609839
DOIs
StatePublished - 2017
EventResearch Using Extreme Light: Entering New Frontiers with Petawatt-Class Lasers III 2017 - Prague, Czech Republic
Duration: Apr 24 2017Apr 26 2017

Publication series

NameProceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering
Volume10241
ISSN (Print)0277-786X
ISSN (Electronic)1996-756X

Conference

ConferenceResearch Using Extreme Light: Entering New Frontiers with Petawatt-Class Lasers III 2017
Country/TerritoryCzech Republic
CityPrague
Period4/24/174/26/17

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
  • Condensed Matter Physics
  • Computer Science Applications
  • Applied Mathematics
  • Electrical and Electronic Engineering

Keywords

  • Magnetic fields
  • Particle-in-cell method
  • Plasma vorticity
  • Protons
  • Relativistic laser plasmas

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