Investigation of Laser-Produced Electron Beams in MG Magnetic Fields
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Authors
Huerta, Noah
Issue Date
2023
Type
Thesis
Language
Keywords
Fast Ignition , Lasers , Nuclear Fusion , Plasma Physics
Alternative Title
Abstract
High Energy Density Physics (HEDP) encompasses a large variety of subfields in physics including but not limited to plasma, nuclear, and astrophysics. The goal of our experiment is to create a laser-driven electron beam, which has a large angle of divergence, and study of the propagation of fast electrons in a strong external magnetic field. We can develop this electron beam in a laser-plasma interaction using a 50 TW chirped pulse amplification laser and generate a megagauss scale magnetic field using a 1 MA pulsed power machine. We also chose to go with a diagnostic based on imagining coherent optical transition radiation. Our application for generating magnetized plasmas is relevant to an Inertially Confined Fusion (ICF) technique. Fusion is a nuclear reaction in which two atoms fuse together to create a heavier atom along with an energy that can be used as a power source. Throughout the course of this thesis, I will discuss electron beams in strong magnetic fields. The experiment was conducted at the University of Nevada’s Zebra Pulsed Power Lab (ZPPL). Covered in this thesis we will discuss in further detail: the theory behind executing our experiment with results from simulations, previous similar experiments, the ZPPL facility and equipment used, the experimental setup, experimental procedure, results related to our experiment, and results from simulations done at the University of Rochester.
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Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 United States