Numerical demonstration of Biermann-generated magnetic fields in a laser-driven cylindrical implosion platform

Armstrong, A. P. [Univ. of Rochester, NY (United States); Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)] (ORCID:0000000208356648); Sauppe, J. P. [Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)] (ORCID:0000000215071595); Merritt, E. C. [Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)] (ORCID:0000000290260070); Li, H. [Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)] (ORCID:0000000335566568); Reyes, A. [Univ. of Rochester, NY (United States)] (ORCID:0000000318599229); Hansen, E. C. [Univ. of Rochester, NY (United States)] (ORCID:0000000185659602); Tzeferacos, P. [Univ. of Rochester, NY (United States); Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)] (ORCID:0000000290426333)

doi:10.1063/5.0269529

DOE OSTI · 2571217

Numerical demonstration of Biermann-generated magnetic fields in a laser-driven cylindrical implosion platform

Armstrong, A. P. [Univ. of Rochester, NY (United States); Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)] (ORCID:0000000208356648)·Sauppe, J. P. [Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)] (ORCID:0000000215071595)·Merritt, E. C. [Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)] (ORCID:0000000290260070)·Li, H. [Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)] (ORCID:0000000335566568)·Reyes, A. [Univ. of Rochester, NY (United States)] (ORCID:0000000318599229)·Hansen, E. C. [Univ. of Rochester, NY (United States)] (ORCID:0000000185659602)·Tzeferacos, P. [Univ. of Rochester, NY (United States); Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)] (ORCID:0000000290426333)

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Abstract

We present two-dimensional radiation-magnetohydrodynamics FLASH simulations studying Biermann battery generated magnetic fields in a convergent geometry based on modifying an existing laser direct drive cylindrical implosion platform at Los Alamos National Laboratory. During the laser driven implosion, instabilities can arise as the target converges, and in a plasma, such instabilities can generate magnetic fields via the Biermann battery. After significant redesign (lowering the inner foam fill density, deceasing the ablator mass, and modifying the laser pulse), we demonstrate that magnetic fields reach strengths of many hundred kilogauss and persist over a nanosecond time scale. Such results pave the way for an experimental campaign for further code verification and validation.

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Armstrong, A. P. [Univ. of Rochester, NY (United States); Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)] (ORCID:0000000208356648), Sauppe, J. P. [Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)] (ORCID:0000000215071595), Merritt, E. C. [Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)] (ORCID:0000000290260070), Li, H. [Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)] (ORCID:0000000335566568), Reyes, A. [Univ. of Rochester, NY (United States)] (ORCID:0000000318599229), Hansen, E. C. [Univ. of Rochester, NY (United States)] (ORCID:0000000185659602), Tzeferacos, P. [Univ. of Rochester, NY (United States); Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)] (ORCID:0000000290426333). 2025-07-02. Numerical demonstration of Biermann-generated magnetic fields in a laser-driven cylindrical implosion platform. https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0269529

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