arXiv subjects

Robert J. Kingham

Publications and source records attributed to Robert J. Kingham.

7 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2024

Generation of 10 kT Axial Magnetic Fields Using Multiple Conventional Laser Beams: A Sensitivity Study for kJ PW-Class Laser Facilities

Strong multi-kilotesla magnetic fields have various applications in high-energy density science and laboratory astrophysics, but they are not readily available. In our previous work [Y. Shi et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 130, 155101 (2023)], we developed a novel approach for generating such fields using multiple conventional laser beams with a twist in the pointing direction. This method is particularly well-suited for multi-kilojoule petawatt-class laser systems like SG-II UP, which are designed with multiple linearly polarized beamlets. Utilizing three-dimensional kinetic particle-in-cell simulations, we examine critical factors for a proof-of-principle experiment, such as laser polarization, relative pulse delay, phase offset, pointing stability, and target configuration, and their impact on magnetic field generation. Our general conclusion is that the approach is very robust and can be realized under a wide range of laser parameters and plasma conditions. We also provide an in-depth analysis of the axial magnetic field configuration, azimuthal electron current, and electron and ion orbital angular momentum densities. Supported by a simple model, our analysis shows that the axial magnetic field decays due to the expansion of hot electrons.

physics.plasm-ph↗

arXiv2024

The impact of non-local parallel electron transport on plasma-impurity reaction rates in tokamak scrape-off layer plasmas

Plasma-impurity reaction rates are a crucial part of modelling tokamak scrape-off layer (SOL) plasmas. To avoid calculating the full set of rates for the large number of important processes involved, a set of effective rates are typically derived which assume Maxwellian electrons. However, non-local parallel electron transport may result in non-Maxwellian electrons, particularly close to divertor targets. Here, the validity of using Maxwellian-averaged rates in this context is investigated by computing the full set of rate equations for a fixed plasma background from kinetic and fluid SOL simulations. We consider the effect of the electron distribution as well as the impact of the electron transport model on plasma profiles. Results are presented for lithium, beryllium, carbon, nitrogen, neon and argon. It is found that electron distributions with enhanced high-energy tails can result in significant modifications to the ionisation balance and radiative power loss rates from excitation, on the order of 50-75% for the latter. Fluid electron models with Spitzer-Härm or flux-limited Spitzer-Härm thermal conductivity, combined with Maxwellian electrons for rate calculations, can increase or decrease this error, depending on the impurity species and plasma conditions. Based on these results, we also discuss some approaches to experimentally observing non-local electron transport in SOL plasmas.

physics.plasm-ph↗

arXiv2023

Measurement of magnetic cavitation driven by heat flow in a plasma

We describe the direct measurement of the expulsion of a magnetic field from a plasma driven by heat flow. Using a laser to heat a column of gas within an applied magnetic field, we isolate Nernst advection and show how it changes the field over a nanosecond timescale. Reconstruction of the magnetic field map from proton radiographs demonstrates that the field is advected by heat flow in advance of the plasma expansion. This changes the dynamics of high energy density plasmas, in which heat flows and fields are strongly coupled, and may disrupt magnetised inertial confinement fusion schemes.

physics.plasm-ph↗

arXiv2023

Scaling laws for electron kinetic effects in tokamak scrape-off layer plasmas

Tokamak edge (scrape-off layer) plasmas can exhibit non-local transport in the direction parallel to the magnetic field due to steep temperature gradients. This effect along with its consequences has been explored at equilibrium for a range of conditions, from sheath-limited to detached, using the 1D kinetic electron code SOL-KiT, where the electrons are treated kinetically and compared to a self-consistent fluid model. Line-averaged suppression of the kinetic heat flux (compared to Spitzer-Harm) of up to 50% is observed, contrasting with up to 98% enhancement of the sheath heat transmission coefficient, $γ_e$. Simple scaling laws in terms of basic SOL parameters for both effects are presented. By implementing these scalings as corrections to the fluid model, we find good agreement with the kinetic model for target electron temperatures. It is found that the strongest kinetic effects in $γ_e$ are observed at low-intermediate collisionalities, and tend to increase at increasing upstream densities and temperatures. On the other hand, the heat flux suppression is found to increase monotonically as upstream collisionality decreases. The conditions simulated encompass collisionalities relevant to current and future tokamaks.

physics.plasm-ph↗

arXiv2020

SOL-KiT -- fully implicit code for kinetic simulation of parallel electron transport in the tokamak Scrape-Off Layer

Here we present a new code for modelling electron kinetics in the tokamak Scrape-Off Layer (SOL). SOL-KiT (Scrape-Off Layer Kinetic Transport) is a fully implicit 1D code with kinetic (or fluid) electrons, fluid (or stationary) ions, and diffusive neutrals. The code is designed for fundamental exploration of non-local physics in the SOL and utilizes an arbitrary degree Legendre polynomial decomposition of the electron distribution function, treating both electron-ion and electron-atom collisions. We present a novel method for ensuring particle and energy conservation in inelastic and superelastic collisions, as well as the first full treatment of the logical boundary condition in the Legendre polynomial formalism. To our knowledge, SOL-KiT is the first fully implicit arbitrary degree harmonic kinetic code, offering a conservative and self-consistent approach to fluid-kinetic comparison with its integrated fluid electron mode. In this paper we give the model equations and their discretizations, as well as showing the results of a number of verification/benchmarking simulations.

physics.comp-ph↗

arXiv2017

Testing nonlocal models of electron thermal conduction for magnetic and inertial confinement fusion applications

Three models for nonlocal electron thermal transport are here compared against Vlasov-Fokker-Planck (VFP) codes to assess their accuracy in situations relevant to both inertial fusion hohlraums and tokamak scrape-off layers. The models tested are (i) a moment-based approach using an eigenvector integral closure (EIC) originally developed by Ji, Held and Sovinec; (ii) the non-Fourier Landau-fluid (NFLF) model of Dimits, Joseph and Umansky; and (iii) Schurtz, Nicolaï and Busquet's multigroup diffusion model (SNB). We find that while the EIC and NFLF models accurately predict the damping rate of a small-amplitude temperature perturbation (within 10% at moderate collisionalities), they overestimate the peak heat flow by as much as 35% and do not predict preheat in the more relevant case where there is a large temperature difference. The SNB model, however, agrees better with VFP results for the latter problem if care is taken with the definition of the mean free path. Additionally, we present for the first time a comparison of the SNB model against a VFP code for a hohlraum-relevant problem with inhomogeneous ionisation and show that the model overestimates the heat flow in the helium gas-fill by a factor of ~2 despite predicting the peak heat flux to within 16%.

physics.plasm-ph↗

arXiv2015

Nernst Effect in Magnetized Plasmas

We present nanosecond timescale Vlasov-Fokker-Planck-Maxwell modeling of magnetized plasma transport and dynamics in a hohlraum with an applied external magnetic field, under conditions similar to recent experiments. Self-consistent modeling of the kinetic electron momentum equation allows for a complete treatment of the heat flow equation and Ohm's Law, including Nernst advection of magnetic fields. In addition to showing the prevalence of non-local behavior, we demonstrate that effects such as anomalous heat flow are induced by inverse bremsstrahlung heating. We show magnetic field amplification up to a factor of 3 from Nernst compression into the hohlraum wall. The magnetic field is also expelled towards the hohlraum axis due to Nernst advection faster than frozen-in-flux would suggest. Non-locality contributes to the heat flow towards the hohlraum axis and results in an augmented Nernst advection mechanism that is included self-consistently through kinetic modeling.

physics.plasm-ph↗