Efficient generation of turbulent collisionless shocks in laser-ablated counter-streaming plasmas

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates that laser-ablated counter-streaming plasmas can rapidly generate turbulent collisionless shocks, revealing new shock structures and dynamics relevant for laboratory astrophysics research.

Contribution

It introduces large-scale particle-in-cell simulations showing how realistic plasma flows form shocks faster and with complex structures, differing from idealized models.

Findings

Shock formation up to 10 times faster in realistic flows

Development of strong shock front corrugations

Implications for laboratory astrophysics experiments

Abstract

Laser-ablated high-energy-density (HED) plasmas offer a promising route to study astrophysically relevant processes underlying collisionless shock formation, magnetic field amplification, and particle acceleration in the laboratory. Using large-scale, multi-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations, we explore the interpenetration of laser-ablated counter-streaming plasmas for realistic experimental flow profiles. We find that the shock formation and its structure are substantially different from those of more idealized and commonly considered uniform flows: shock formation can be up to 10 times faster due to the transition from small-angle scattering to magnetic reflection and the shock front develops strong corrugations at the ion gyroradius scale. These findings have important consequences for current experimental programs and open exciting prospects for studying the microphysics of turbulent collisionless shocks with currently available high-energy laser systems.