A Laboratory Analogue for Cosmic Ray Scattering and Acceleration in Laser-Driven Magnetized Plasmas

ORAL

Abstract

We present results from an experiment conducted at the GSI Helmholtz Centre for Heavy Ion Research, in which a monoenergetic beam of chromium ions (∼450 MeV) was propagated through a magnetized plasma interaction region formed by the collision of two counter-propagating, laser-ablated plasma flows. The plasma was diagnosed using laser interferometry and ion deflectometry, which showed no evidence for strong fluid-scale turbulence within the interaction region. This observation is consistent with magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) simulations performed using FLASH prior to the experiment [1].

Surprisingly, despite the absence of strong fluid-scale turbulence, time-of-flight measurements revealed both velocity-space diffusion and bulk acceleration of the ion beam. This scattering is consistent with a wave–particle interaction driven by short-wavelength, electrostatic, kinetic turbulence. These findings demonstrate that significant beam–plasma interactions can occur even in the absence of large-scale turbulent structures, with implications for cosmic ray injection and pre-acceleration in magnetized, collisionless shocks.

[1] K. Moczulski et al., Phys. Plasmas 31, 122105 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0223496

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Presenters

  • Jack WD Halliday

    • STFC, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory

Authors

  • Jack WD Halliday

    • STFC, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory

  • Joshua Chu

    • University of Oxford

  • Charles Heaton

    • University of Oxford

  • Kassie Moczulski

    • University of Rochester

  • Abel Blazevic

    • GSI Helmholtz Centre for Heavy Ion Research GmbH

  • Dennis Schumacher

    • GSI Helmholtz Centre for Heavy Ion Research GmbH

  • Martin Metternich

    • GSI Helmholtz Centre for Heavy Ion Research GmbH

  • Haress Nazary

    • Technische Universität Darmstadt

  • Charles D Arrowsmith

    • Laboratory for Laser Energetics (LLE)
    • University of Oxford

  • Anthony R Bell

    • University of Oxford

  • Konstantin A Beyer

    • Max-Planck-Institut für Kernphysik

  • Archie F.A. Bott

    • University of Oxford

  • Thomas I Campbell

    • University of Oxford

  • Eddie C Hansen

    • University of Rochester
    • Univeristy of Rochester

  • Don Q Lamb

    • University of Chicago

  • Francesco Miniati

    • University of Oxford

  • Paul Neumayer

    • GSI Helmholtz Centre for Heavy Ion Research GmbH

  • Charlotte A Palmer

    • Queen's University Belfast

  • Brian Reville

    • Max-Planck-Institut für Kernphysik

  • Adam Reyes

    • Pacific Fusion
    • University of Rochester

  • Subir Sakar

    • University of Oxford

  • Anthony Scopatz

    • University of Rochester

  • Christopher Spindloe

    • Central Laser Facility, STFC Rutherford Appleton Laboratory

  • Charlotte Stuart

    • University of Oxford

  • Han Wen

    • University of Rochester

  • Petros Tzeferacos

    • University of Rochester

  • Robert Bingham

    • STFC Rutherford Appleton Laboratory
    • University of Strathclyde

  • Gianluca Gregori

    • University of Oxford