Record Magnetic Field Generation by Short-Pulse Laser-Driven Capacitor-Coil Targets

TL;DR

This study demonstrates the generation of record-high magnetic fields exceeding 200 Tesla using laser-driven capacitor-coil targets, characterized through ultrafast proton radiography, advancing high-field physics research.

Contribution

It reports the first measurement of ultra-high magnetic fields produced by short-pulse laser-driven capacitor-coil targets with precise proton radiography.

Findings

Magnetic fields over 200 Tesla measured at 1.127 ns after laser pulse.

Coil currents of approximately 120 kA generated.

Proton radiography provided high-quality data for magnetic field mapping.

Abstract

Magnetic fields generated by capacitor-coil targets driven by intense short-pulse lasers have been characterized using ultrafast proton radiography. A 1-kJ, 15-ps laser at a center wavelength of 1053 nm irradiated the back plate of the capacitor with an intensity of $\sim$8.3 $\times$ 10$^{18}$ W$/$cm$^{2}$, creating ultra large currents in the connecting coils. High-quality proton data obtained in the axial probing geometry show definitive signatures of magnetic field generation allowing precision measurement of the field distribution and strength. The data show a coil current of 120 $\pm$ 10 kA producing 200 $\pm$ 20 Tesla magnetic fields at the coil center at 1.127 ns afer the laser drive. This sets a record for magnetic field generation by the short-pulse-powered capacitor-coil targets.