arXiv subjects

Takayoshi Sano

Publications and source records attributed to Takayoshi Sano.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Proton Acceleration by Collisionless Shocks in Supermassive Black Hole Coronae: Implications for High-Energy Neutrinos

Recent observations by the IceCube Neutrino Observatory have revealed a significant excess of high-energy neutrinos from nearby Seyfert galaxies, such as NGC~1068, without a corresponding flux of high-energy gamma-rays. This suggests that neutrinos are produced via hadronic interactions in a region opaque to gamma-rays, likely a hot corona surrounding the central supermassive black hole. However, the mechanism responsible for accelerating the parent protons to the required energies ($\sim 100$ TeV) remains an open question. In this study, we investigate diffusive shock acceleration (DSA) in active galactic nucleus (AGN) coronae using a suite of one-dimensional Particle-in-cell (PIC) simulations spanning a broad range of plasma parameters. We find that DSA is a robust and efficient mechanism for proton acceleration, consistently channeling approximately 10\% of the shock's kinetic energy into non-thermal ions, even for shocks with sonic Mach number as low as $ M_s \approx 2$. In contrast, the efficiency of electron acceleration is highly variable and less efficient ($<1\%$) in our parameter survey. These findings provide strong, first-principles support for the hadronic models of neutrino production in AGN and offer quantitative constraints that can explain the observed gamma-ray deficit.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2026

Pulse magnet of 10 T for power laser experiments with x-ray free-electron laser diagnostics

The importance of investigating magnetized plasmas/solids in extreme conditions has grown over the last decades, particularly in the field of high energy density physics (HEDP), such as laboratory astrophysics and inertial confinement fusion. However, up to now, the unique capabilities of an X-ray free-electron laser (XFEL), such as high brilliance and low divergence have never been exploited for this type of research. In this paper, we present the first platform developed at SACLA, Japan, that combines a high-power optical laser for generating matter under extreme conditions of pressure and temperature, an XFEL probe, and an external magnetic field. The high current is produced using a 2 kV, 4.8 kJ pulsed power system giving a maximum current of 10 kA which is synchronized with the optical laser and XFEL in a vacuum environment. It flows through a split-pair coil to generate a high magnetic field (10 T at 6 kA) which has 1 cm access every 45$^{\circ}$ in the equatorial plane and 90$^{\circ}$ in the poloidal one. This platform offers new opportunities to study high-energy-density matter in strong magnetic fields, including shock propagation, instability growth, and turbulent plasma dynamics.

physics.plasm-ph↗

arXiv2025

Enhanced plasma heating via interaction with high-contrast laser and cone-shaped target

We investigated plasma heating enhancement using a high-intensity, high-contrast laser and a cone-attached target. Fast electron spectra and X-ray emission were measured with an electron spectrometer and a Bragg crystal spectrometer. The results were analyzed using PrismSPECT simulations with a two-component electron distribution model and empirical scaling laws. X-ray pinhole images showed that the cone effectively focused multi-spot laser light near its tip, enhancing local emission. While high-contrast laser irradiation reduced the fast electron slope temperature for flat targets, the use of a cone increased it by over threefold, corresponding to a fourfold rise in laser intensity. X-ray spectral analysis indicated an electron temperature of ~9~keV for the cone case, 17.5 times higher than that with a low-contrast laser. These findings demonstrate that combining high-contrast laser irradiation with cone-target geometry significantly improves laser energy coupling and plasma heating efficiency.

physics.plasm-ph↗

arXiv2024

Relativistic two-wave resonant acceleration of electrons at large-amplitude standing whistler waves during laser-plasma interaction

The interaction between a thin foil target and a circularly polarized laser light injected along an external magnetic field is investigated numerically by particle-in-cell simulations. A standing wave appears at the front surface of the target, overlapping the injected and partially reflected waves. Hot electrons are efficiently generated at the standing wave due to the relativistic two-wave resonant acceleration if the magnetic field amplitude of the standing wave is larger than the ambient field. A bifurcation occurs in the gyration motion of electrons, allowing all electrons with non-relativistic velocities to acquire relativistic energy through the cyclotron resonance. The optimal conditions for the highest energy and the most significant fraction of hot electrons are derived precisely through a simple analysis of test-particle trajectories in the standing wave. Since the number of hot electrons increases drastically by many orders of magnitude compared to the conventional unmagnetized cases, this acceleration could be a great advantage in laser-driven ion acceleration and its applications.

physics.plasm-ph↗

arXiv2024

Comment on "Comments regarding "Transonic dislocation propagation in diamond" by Katagiri, et al. (Science 382, 69-72, 2023)" by Hawreliak, et al. (arXiv:2401.04213)

In their comment (1), Hawreliak et al. claims that our observation of stacking fault formation and transonic dislocation propagation in diamond (2) is not valid as they interpret the observed features as cracks. In this response letter, we describe our rationale for interpreting the observed features as stacking faults. We also address other points raised in their comments, including the clarifications of how the results of Makarov et al. (3) are not in conflict with our study.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2023

Transonic Dislocation Propagation in Diamond

The motion of line defects (dislocations) has been studied for over 60 years but the maximum speed at which they can move is unresolved. Recent models and atomistic simulations predict the existence of a limiting velocity of dislocation motions between the transonic and subsonic ranges at which the self-energy of dislocation diverges, though they do not deny the possibility of the transonic dislocations. We use femtosecond x-ray radiography to track ultrafast dislocation motion in shock-compressed single-crystal diamond. By visualizing stacking faults extending faster than the slowest sound wave speed of diamond, we show the evidence of partial dislocations at their leading edge moving transonically. Understanding the upper limit of dislocation mobility in crystals is essential to accurately model, predict, and control the mechanical properties of materials under extreme conditions.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2023

Conditions of structural transition for collisionless electrostatic shock

Collisionless shock acceleration, which transfers localized particle energies to non-thermal energetic particles via electromagnetic potential, is ubiquitous in space plasma. We investigate dynamics of collisionless electrostatic shocks that appear at interface of two plasma slabs with different pressures using one-dimensional particle-in-cell (PIC) simulations and find that the shock structure transforms to a double-layer structure at the high density gradient. The threshold condition of the structure transformation is identified as density ratio of the two plasma slabs $Γ$ $\sim 40$ regardless of the temperature ratio between them. We then update the collisionless shock model that takes into account density expansion effects caused by a rarefaction wave to improve the prediction of the critical Mach numbers. The new critical Mach numbers are benchmarked by PIC simulations for a wide range of $Γ$. Furthermore, we introduce a semi-analytical approach to forecast the shock velocity just from the initial conditions based on a new concept of the accelerated fraction $α$.

physics.plasm-ph↗

arXiv2022

Rotational Dependence of Large-scale Dynamo in Strongly-stratified Convection: What Causes It?

In a rigidly-rotating magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) system with convective turbulence, a large-scale dynamo, categorized as the $α^2$-type, can be excited when the spin rate is large enough. In this paper, the rotational dependence of the $α^2$-type dynamo and the cause of it are explored by mean-field (MF) dynamo models coupled with direct numerical simulations (DNSs) of MHD convections. Bearing the application to the solar/stellar dynamo in mind, we adopt a strongly-stratified polytrope as a model of the convective atmosphere. Our DNS models show that the $α^2$-type dynamo is excited when ${\rm Ro} \lesssim 0.1$ where ${\rm Ro}$ is the Rossby number defined with the volume-averaged mean convective velocity. From the corresponding MF models, we demonstrate that the rotational dependence of the $α^2$-type dynamo is mainly due to the change in the magnitude of the turbulent magnetic diffusion. With increasing the spin rate, the turbulent magnetic diffusion weakens while the $α$-effect remains essentially unchanged over the convection zone, providing the critical point for the excitation of the large-scale dynamo. The ${\rm Ro}$-dependence of the stellar magnetic activity observable in the cool star is also discussed from the viewpoint of the rotational dependence of the turbulent electro-motive force. Overall our results suggest that, to get a better grasp of the stellar dynamo activity and its ${\rm Ro}$-dependence, it should be quantified how the convection velocity changes with the stellar spin rate with taking account of the rotational quenching and the Lorentz force feedback from the magnetic field on the convective turbulence.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2021

Optab: Public code for generating gas opacity tables for radiation hydrodynamics simulations

We have developed a public code, Optab, that outputs Rosseland, Planck, and two-temperature Planck mean gas opacity tables for radiation hydrodynamics simulations in astrophysics. The code is developed for modern high-performance computing, being written in Fortran 90 and using Message Passing Interface and Hierarchical Data Format, Version 5. The purpose of this work is to provide a platform on which users can generate opacity tables for their own research purposes. Therefore, the code has been designed so that a user can easily modify, change, or add opacity sources in addition to those already implemented, which include bremsstrahlung, photoionization, Rayleigh scattering, line absorption, and collision-induced absorption. In this paper, we provide details of the opacity calculations in our code and present validation tests to evaluate the performance of our code.

astro-ph.IM↗

arXiv2021

Laser astrophysics experiment on the amplification of magnetic fields by shock-induced interfacial instabilities

Laser experiments are becoming established as a new tool for astronomical research that complements observations and theoretical modeling. Localized strong magnetic fields have been observed at a shock front of supernova explosions. Experimental confirmation and identification of the physical mechanism for this observation are of great importance in understanding the evolution of the interstellar medium. However, it has been challenging to treat the interaction between hydrodynamic instabilities and an ambient magnetic field in the laboratory. Here, we developed an experimental platform to examine magnetized Richtmyer-Meshkov instability (RMI). The measured growth velocity was consistent with the linear theory, and the magnetic-field amplification was correlated with RMI growth. Our experiment validated the turbulent amplification of magnetic fields associated with the shock-induced interfacial instability in astrophysical conditions for the first time. Experimental elucidation of fundamental processes in magnetized plasmas is generally essential in various situations such as fusion plasmas and planetary sciences.

physics.plasm-ph↗

arXiv2021

Alfven number for the Richtmyer-Meshkov instability in magnetized plasmas

Magnetohydrodynamical evolution of the Richtmyer-Meshkov instability (RMI) is investigated by two-dimensional MHD simulations. The RMI is suppressed by a strong magnetic field, whereas the RMI amplifies an ambient magnetic field by many orders of magnitude if the seed field is weak. We have found that the suppression and amplification processes can be evaluated continuously along with the amplitude of the Alfvén number $R_A$, which is defined as the ratio of the linear growth velocity of the RMI to the Alfvén speed at the interface. When the Alfvén number is less than unity, the Lorentz force acting on the fluid mitigates the unstable motion of the RMI significantly, and the interface oscillates stably in this limit. If $R_A \gtrsim 1$, on the other hand, the surface modulation increases due to the growth of the RMI. The maximum strength of the magnetic field is enhanced up to by a factor of $R_A$. This critical feature is universal and independent of the initial Mach number of the incident shock, the Atwood number, corrugation amplitude, and even the direction of the initial magnetic field.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2021

Enhancement of ablative Rayleigh-Taylor instability growth by thermal conduction suppression in a magnetic field

Ablative Rayleigh-Taylor instability growth was investigated to elucidate the fundamental physics of thermal conduction suppression in a magnetic field. Experiments found that unstable modulation growth is faster in an external magnetic field. This result was reproduced by a magnetohydrodynamic simulation based on a Braginskii model of electron thermal transport. An external magnetic field reduces the electron thermal conduction across the magnetic field lines because the Larmor radius of the thermal electrons in the field is much shorter than the temperature scale length. Thermal conduction suppression leads to spatially nonuniform pressure and reduced thermal ablative stabilization, which in turn increases the growth of ablative Rayleigh-Taylor instability.

physics.plasm-ph↗

arXiv2021

Ion acceleration at two collisionless shocks in a multicomponent plasma

Intense laser-plasma interactions are an essential tool for the laboratory study of ion acceleration at a collisionless shock. With two-dimensional particle-in-cell calculations of a multicomponent plasma we observe two electrostatic collisionless shocks at two distinct longitudinal positions when driven with a linearly-polarized laser at normalized laser vector potential a0 that exceeds 10. Moreover, these shocks, associated with protons and carbon ions, show a power-law dependence on a0 and accelerate ions to different velocities in an expanding upstream with higher flux than in a single-component hydrogen or carbon plasma. This results from an electrostatic ion two-stream instability caused by differences in the charge-to-mass ratio of different ions. Particle acceleration in collisionless shocks in multicomponent plasma are ubiquitous in space and astrophysics, and these calculations identify the possibility for studying these complex processes in the laboratory.

physics.plasm-ph↗

arXiv2020

Plasma Concept for Generating Circularly Polarized Electromagnetic Waves with Relativistic Amplitude

Propagation features of circularly polarized (CP) electromagnetic waves in magnetized plasmas are determined by the plasma density and the magnetic field strength. This property can be applied to design a unique plasma photonic device for intense short-pulse lasers. We have demonstrated by numerical simulations that a thin plasma foil under an external magnetic field works as a polarizing plate to separate a linearly polarized laser into two CP waves traveling in the opposite direction. This plasma photonic device has an advantage for generating intense CP waves even with a relativistic amplitude. For various research purposes, intense CP lights are strongly required to create high energy density plasmas in the laboratory.

physics.plasm-ph↗

arXiv2020

Suppression of the Richtmyer-Meshkov Instability due to a Density Transition Layer at the Interface

We have investigated the effects of a smooth transition layer at the contact discontinuity on the growth of the Richtmyer-Meshkov instability (RMI) by hydrodynamic numerical simulations and derived an empirical condition for the suppression of the instability. The transition layer has little influence on the RMI when the thickness $L$ is narrower than the wavelength of an interface modulation $λ$. However, if the transition layer becomes broader than $λ$, the perturbed velocity associated with the RMI is reduced considerably. The suppression condition is interpreted as the cases that the shock transit time through the transition layer is longer than the sound crossing time of the modulation wavelength. The fluctuation kinetic energy decreases as $L^{-p}$ with $p = 2.5$, which indicates that the growth velocity of the RMI decreases in proportion to $L^{-p/2}$ by the presence of the transition layer. This feature is found to be quite universal and appeared in a wide range of shock-interface interactions.

physics.plasm-ph↗

arXiv2020

Thermonuclear Fusion Triggered by Collapsing Standing Whistler Waves in Magnetized Overdense Plasmas

Thermal fusion plasmas initiated by standing whistler waves are investigated numerically by two- and one-dimensional Particle-in-Cell simulations. When a standing whistler wave collapses due to the wave breaking of ion plasma waves, the energy of the electromagnetic waves transfers directly to the ion kinetic energy. Here we find that the ion heating by the standing whistler wave is operational even in multi-dimensional simulations of multi-ion species targets, such as deuterium-tritium (DT) ices and solid ammonia borane (H$_6$BN). The energy conversion efficiency to ions becomes as high as 15% of the injected laser energy, which depends significantly on the target thickness and laser pulse duration. The ion temperature could reach a few tens of keV or much higher if appropriate laser-plasma conditions are selected. DT fusion plasmas generated by this method must be useful as efficient neutron sources. Our numerical simulations suggest that the neutron generation efficiency exceeds 10$^9$ n/J per steradian, which is beyond the current achievements of the state-of-the-art laser experiments. The standing whistler wave heating would expand the experimental possibility for an alternative ignition design of magnetically confined laser fusion, and also for more difficult fusion reactions including the aneutronic proton-boron reaction.

physics.plasm-ph↗

arXiv2019

Ultrafast Wave-Particle Energy Transfer in the Collapse of Standing Whistler Waves

Efficient energy transfer from electromagnetic waves to ions has been demanded to control laboratory plasmas for various applications and could be useful to understand the nature of space and astrophysical plasmas. However, there exists a severe unsolved problem that most of the wave energy is converted quickly to electrons, but not to ions. Here, an energy conversion process to ions in overdense plasmas associated with whistler waves is investigated by numerical simulations and theoretical model. Whistler waves propagating along a magnetic field in space and laboratories often form the standing waves by the collision of counter-propagating waves or through the reflection. We find that ions in the standing whistler waves acquire a large amount of energy directly from the waves in a short timescale comparable to the wave oscillation period. Thermalized ion temperature increases in proportion to the square of the wave amplitude and becomes much higher than the electron temperature in a wide range of wave-plasma conditions. This efficient ion-heating mechanism applies to various plasma phenomena in space physics and fusion energy sciences.

physics.plasm-ph↗

arXiv2019

Peta-Pascal Pressure Driven by Fast Isochoric Heating with Multi-Picosecond Intense Laser Pulse

Fast isochoric laser heating is a scheme to heat a matter with relativistic-intensity ($>$ 10$^{18}$ W/cm$^2$) laser pulse or X-ray free electron laser pulse. The fast isochoric laser heating has been studied for creating efficiently ultra-high-energy-density (UHED) state. We demonstrate an fast isochoric heating of an imploded dense plasma using a multi-picosecond kJ-class petawatt laser with an assistance of externally applied kilo-tesla magnetic fields for guiding fast electrons to the dense plasma.The UHED state with 2.2 Peta-Pascal is achieved experimentally with 4.6 kJ of total laser energy that is one order of magnitude lower than the energy used in the conventional implosion scheme. A two-dimensional particle-in-cell simulation reveals that diffusive heating from a laser-plasma interaction zone to the dense plasma plays an essential role to the efficient creation of the UHED state.

physics.plasm-ph↗