Magnetic island structures in relativistic laser-driven plasma channels
Abstract
We develop a theoretical model for self-generated magnetic islands in relativistic laser-driven channels in near-critical-density plasmas. The islands arise from the nonlinear superposition of the quasi-static magnetic fields generated by the longitudinal channel current jx and the laser-front driven transverse current jy. By deriving the critical conditions among laser depletion, transversely symmetric channel formation, and magnetic-island formation, we identify the laser-plasma parameter window in which the magnetic island structures can exist. Within this window, the balance between the laser ponderomotive force and the charge-separation force, expressed through an effec tive electron density neff, determines the transverse island width H, whereas the mismatch between the laser group and phase velocities determines the longitudinal period L. Large-scale particle-in-cell simulations over a broad range of laser intensities and plasma densities validate the resulting scaling laws. The model turns the island geometry from a qualitative feature of the channel field into a predictable quantity, providing a basis for tailoring electron transport, particle acceleration, high-energy radiation, and novel fusion ignition schemes in relativistic laser-plasma interactions.
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BibTeX
@misc{cai2026magnetic,
title = {{Magnetic island structures in relativistic laser-driven plasma channels}},
author = {Dongchi Cai and Zheng Gong and Guanqi Qiu and Deji Liu and Yinren Shou and Xueqing Yan},
howpublished = {arXiv},
year = {2026},
month = sep,
doi = {10.48550/arxiv.2609.06562},
eprint = {2609.06562},
archivePrefix = {arXiv},
url = {https://arxiv.org/abs/2609.06562},
}
RIS
TY - UNPB
TI - Magnetic island structures in relativistic laser-driven plasma channels
AU - Dongchi Cai
AU - Zheng Gong
AU - Guanqi Qiu
AU - Deji Liu
AU - Yinren Shou
AU - Xueqing Yan
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/09/06
PB - arXiv
DO - 10.48550/arxiv.2609.06562
UR - https://arxiv.org/abs/2609.06562
AB - We develop a theoretical model for self-generated magnetic islands in relativistic laser-driven channels in near-critical-density plasmas. The islands arise from the nonlinear superposition of the quasi-static magnetic fields generated by the longitudinal channel current j_x and the laser-front driven transverse current j_y. By deriving the critical conditions among laser depletion, transversely symmetric channel formation, and magnetic-island formation, we identify the laser-plasma parameter window in which the magnetic island structures can exist. Within this window, the balance between the laser ponderomotive force and the charge-separation force, expressed through an effec tive electron density n_eff, determines the transverse island width H, whereas the mismatch between the laser group and phase velocities determines the longitudinal period L. Large-scale particle-in-cell simulations over a broad range of laser intensities and plasma densities validate the resulting scaling laws. The model turns the island geometry from a qualitative feature of the channel field into a predictable quantity, providing a basis for tailoring electron transport, particle acceleration, high-energy radiation, and novel fusion ignition schemes in relativistic laser-plasma interactions.
ER -