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arXiv · 2607.06965

Magnetic field generation by the Rayleigh-Taylor instability in laser-driven planar plastic targets

L Gao·PM Nilson·IV Igumenschev·SX Hu·JR Davies·C Stoeckl·MG Haines·DH Froula·R Betti·DD Meyerhofer
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Abstract

Magnetic fields generated by the Rayleigh-Taylor instability were measured in laser-accelerated planar foils using ultrafast proton radiography. Thin plastic foils were irradiated with $\sim$4-kJ, 2.5-ns laser pulses focused to an intensity of $\sim$10$^{14}$ W$/$cm$^{2}$ on the OMEGA EP Laser System. Target modulations were seeded by laser nonuniformities and amplified during target acceleration by the Rayleigh-Taylor instability. The experimental data show the hydrodynamic evolution of the target and MG-level magnetic fields generated in the broken foil. The experimental data are in good agreement with predictions from 2-D magnetohydrodynamic simulations.

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L Gao, PM Nilson, IV Igumenschev, SX Hu, JR Davies, C Stoeckl, MG Haines, DH Froula, R Betti, DD Meyerhofer. 2026-07-08. Magnetic field generation by the Rayleigh-Taylor instability in laser-driven planar plastic targets. https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevlett.109.115001

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