Weibel-instability-mediated collisionless shocks in laboratory with ultraintense lasers

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates through simulations that ultraintense lasers can create collisionless shocks in laboratory settings, with the Weibel instability being key to magnetic field generation and shock formation, enabling astrophysical shock studies.

Contribution

It shows that laboratory collisionless shocks can be generated using ultrahigh intensity lasers, highlighting the role of Weibel instability in shock formation.

Findings

Weibel instability generates magnetic fields in laser-induced shocks.

Laboratory shocks mimic astrophysical shock physics.

Simulations confirm shock formation mechanisms.

Abstract

The formation of non-relativistic collisionless shocks in laboratory with ultrahigh intensity lasers is studied via \emph{ab initio} multi-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations. The microphysics behind shock formation and dissipation, and the detailed shock structure are analyzed, illustrating that the Weibel instability plays a crucial role in the generation of strong subequipartition magnetic fields that isotropize the incoming flow and lead to the formation of a collisionless shock, similarly to what occurs in astrophysical scenarios. The possibility of generating such collisionless shocks in laboratory opens the way to the direct study of the physics associated with astrophysical shocks.