Challenge to the ultimate material science by the fusion of plasma physics and nanoengineering

Project Gist

Realization of ultra-strong magnetic field generation!

Keywords

High intensity laser, High energy density plasma, Strong magnetic field generation

Background and Purpose

Due to an ultra-short and high-intensity laser irradiation with a peak intensity exceeding 10¹⁸ W/cm² to the matter, a high energy density (HED) plasma accompanied by a strong magnetic field with an intensity of kilo-tesla is generated. By using a target consisting of a sub-μm-sized silicon rod with a high aspect ratio (height/radius~50-100), which we have developed so far, we aim to generate an unprecedented ultra-high-intensity magnetic field and the sustainment of the HED plasma by the field, which can be used in medical, industrial and academic applications such as particle beam cancer therapy, nuclear physics and reproduction of extreme phenomena in space physics.

Project Achievements

We performed a series of two-dimensional and three-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations using a supercomputer and found the structure and design of a target that can generate an ultra-strong (~kT) magnetic field due to a high-power laser irradiation. Based on numerical simulation results, we fabricated a silicon rod assembly target with a high aspect ratio (height/radius~50-100) by utilizing the latest semiconductor manufacturing technology. We have also started laser experiments at the T6 laser system (ICR, Kyoto University) by using this target and obtained experimental results showing that the hot electron temperature of the plasma can be controlled by changing the microstructure of the target.

Future Prospects

Based on the achievement of this research in manufacturing a silicon rod assembly target and setting up an environment for experiments concerning a high-power laser-matter interaction, we will work on the development of a measurement method concerning a strong magnetic field generated in a high energy density plasma by utilizing the interferometer of plasma.

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Principal Investigator