Kinetic simulations of particle energization by magnetized collisionless shocks in expanding laboratory plasmas

Collisionless shocks are common features in space and astrophysical systems where supersonic plasma flows interact, such as the solar wind, the heliopause, and supernovae remnants. Recently experimental capabilities and diagnostics evolved sufficiently to allow detailed laboratory investigations of high-Mach number shocks [1]. Using 2D and 3D PIC simulations, we investigate mechanisms which may contribute to the generation of energetic particle populations in the laboratory high-Mach number collisionless shocks. We consider two geometries, (1) two colliding quasi-1-D slabs, which can be cross-validated with previous numerical studies, and (2) an ablation model which mimics plasma profiles observed in the expanding plasma experiments. We perform a parametric scan study to determine the accelerated particle distributions as a function of the plasma parameters of the shock, to predict experimental signatures of collisionless shock acceleration, such as the accelerated particle spectrum and angular distribution, that can be compared against other known laser-plasma processes that energize particles.

[1] Schaeffer et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 119, 025001 (2017)