3D Electron Fluid Turbulence at Nanoscales in Dense Plasmas

TL;DR

This study uses 3D nonlinear fluid simulations to explore electron turbulence at nanoscales in dense plasmas, revealing the critical role of quantum diffraction effects in turbulence spectra and transport properties.

Contribution

It introduces the first detailed simulation of 3D electron fluid turbulence in dense plasmas, highlighting the impact of quantum effects on inertial range cascades.

Findings

Quantum diffraction influences turbulence spectra.

Wave function cascades to smaller scales, potential to larger scales.

Quantum effects significantly affect transport in dense plasmas.

Abstract

We have performed three dimensional nonlinear fluid simulations of electron fluid turbulence at nanoscales in an unmagnetized warm dense plasma in which mode coupling between wave function and electrostatic potential associated with underlying electron plasma oscillations (EPOs) lead to nonlinear cascades in inertial range. While the wave function cascades towards smaller length scales, electrostatic potential follows an inverse cascade. We find from our simulations that quantum diffraction effect associated with a Bohm potential plays a critical role in determining the inertial range turbulent spectrum and the subsequent transport level exhibited by the 3D EPOs.