Observations of high beta kinetic turbulence in Biermann-battery driven magnetized shocks in experiments at OMEGA

ORAL

Abstract

Magnetic turbulence plays an important role in collisionless shocks. It is essential for diffusive shock acceleration while also providing a way for shock energy dissipation. In this presentation, proton radiography data from a Biermann-battery driven magnetized collisionless shock experiments are analyzed for magnetic turbulence. The resulting magnetic power spectrum has a shallow slope at large scales and a steeper slope at small scales with a spectral brake between the ion-Larmor radius and the ion skin depth. The system is high beta with the kinetic ion beta at around 20. Particle-in-cell simulations with similar conditions to the experiment are performed to study high-beta kinetic turbulence. The resulting simulated magnetic power spectrum is similar to the experimental spectrum showing that the experimental measurements are consistent with magnetic turbulence.

Presenters

  • Timothy M Johnson

    Plasma Science and Fusion Center, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Authors

  • Timothy M Johnson

    Plasma Science and Fusion Center, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

  • Graeme D Sutcliffe

    Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

  • Daniel Groselj

    KU Leuven

  • Jacob A Pearcy

    Massachusetts Institute of Technology

  • Gabriel Rigon

    Massachusetts Institute of Technology

  • Andrew Birkel

    Massachusetts Institute of Technology

  • Benjamin Reichelt

    Massachusetts Institute of Technology

  • Justin H Kunimune

    Massachusetts Institute of Technology

  • Skylar G Dannhoff

    Massachusetts Institute of Technology MI

  • Nuno F Loureiro

    Massachusetts Institute of Technology

  • Chikang Li

    Massachusetts Institute of Technology MIT