MAGNETIC CONFINEMENT OF AN EXPANDING LASER-PRODUCED PLASMA

摘要

High energy ions from IFE target explosions threaten the survival and lifetime of dry chamber walls. Magnetic fields have been proposed as a possible means to divert or extract energy from the expanding plasma. We have performed experimental studies to characterize the expansion dynamics of laser ablation plumes into several magnetic field configurations, including fields aligned with or transverse to the expansion direction, and a curved field with the axis aligned with the expansion direction. Plasma was produced using pulses from a Q-switched Nd:YAG laser supplying power density in the range of 5-50 GW/cm~2. Significant changes were observed in the plume dynamics, including enhanced emission, confinement of the plasma, and guiding of the expansion along field lines.