Abstract Details
Kinetic Electrostatic Electron Nonlinear Waves in High Energy Density Plasmas
Author: Bedros Afeyan
Requested Type: Oral Only
Submitted: 2009-04-26 20:06:15
Co-authors: M.Charbonneau-Lefort, M. Mardirian, M. Shoucri
Contact Info:
Polymath Research
827 Bonde Court
Pleasanton, CA 94566
USA
Abstract Text:
Nonlinear, Nonstationary Self-Organized, Asymptotic (NNSA) states in plasmas can play a significant role in rapidly storing and transferring energy from one sector of phase space to another. Kinetic Electrostatic Electron Nonlinear (KEEN) waves are an example of such states. We will describe their properties and origins in laser-plasma interaction settings. Multiple phase locked harmonics, phase space partitioning and trapping, untrapping and retrapping oscillations will be shown to be critical attributes of such states. We will also show how the existence of KEEN waves at 1:2 resonance with respect to an electron plasma wave (EPW), will disallow the nonlinear trapped state to ever be reached in that plasma wave. This means that the electron plasma wave will Landau damp despite being strongly driven, due to the combined field of the KEEN wave and EPW which is a novel non-local process in phase space. This latter phenomenon can have important implications for both direct and indirect drive ICF where two plasmon decay and stimulated Raman scattering are threatening processes that involve EPWs which, if left undamped and large amplitude, could impede the proper functioning of an ICF target. Other applications of NNSA states involve Shock and Fast Ignition concepts where large amplitude waves are ubiquitous approaching or fully in the relativistic regime.
** Work supported by a grant from the DOE NNSA SSAA Grants program.
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