Non-equilibrium effects in a relativistic plasma sheath model
Plasma sheaths characterized by electrons with relativistic energies and far from thermodynamic equilibrium are governed by a rich and largely unexplored physics. A reliable kinetic description of relativistic non-equilibrium plasma sheaths—besides its interest from a fundamental point of view—is cr...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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IOP Publishing
2020-01-01
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| Series: | New Journal of Physics |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1088/1367-2630/ab83cf |
| _version_ | 1797750258267062272 |
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| author | A Formenti A Maffini M Passoni |
| author_facet | A Formenti A Maffini M Passoni |
| author_sort | A Formenti |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Plasma sheaths characterized by electrons with relativistic energies and far from thermodynamic equilibrium are governed by a rich and largely unexplored physics. A reliable kinetic description of relativistic non-equilibrium plasma sheaths—besides its interest from a fundamental point of view—is crucial to many application, from controlled nuclear fusion to laser-driven particle acceleration. Sheath models proposed in the literature adopt either relativistic equilibrium distribution functions or non-relativistic non-equilibrium distribution functions, making it impossible to properly capture the physics involved when both relativistic and non-equilibrium effects are important. Here we tackle this issue by solving the electrostatic Vlasov–Poisson equations with a new class of fully-relativistic distribution functions that can describe non-equilibrium features via a real scalar parameter. After having discussed the general properties of the distribution functions and the resulting plasma sheath model, we establish an approach to investigate the effect of non-equilibrium solely. Then, we apply our approach to describe laser–plasma ion acceleration in the target normal sheath acceleration scheme. Results show how different degrees of non-equilibrium lead to the formation of sheaths with significantly different features, thereby having a relevant impact on the ion acceleration process. We believe that this approach can offer a deeper understanding of relativistic plasma sheaths, opening new perspectives in view of their applications. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T16:30:05Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-05a83673690f4ac4a3a25278658a7fa3 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1367-2630 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T16:30:05Z |
| publishDate | 2020-01-01 |
| publisher | IOP Publishing |
| record_format | Article |
| series | New Journal of Physics |
| spelling | doaj.art-05a83673690f4ac4a3a25278658a7fa32023-08-08T15:30:04ZengIOP PublishingNew Journal of Physics1367-26302020-01-0122505302010.1088/1367-2630/ab83cfNon-equilibrium effects in a relativistic plasma sheath modelA Formenti0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7887-9313A Maffini1https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3388-5330M Passoni2https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7844-3691Department of Energy, Politecnico di Milano , Milano, ItalyDepartment of Energy, Politecnico di Milano , Milano, ItalyDepartment of Energy, Politecnico di Milano , Milano, ItalyPlasma sheaths characterized by electrons with relativistic energies and far from thermodynamic equilibrium are governed by a rich and largely unexplored physics. A reliable kinetic description of relativistic non-equilibrium plasma sheaths—besides its interest from a fundamental point of view—is crucial to many application, from controlled nuclear fusion to laser-driven particle acceleration. Sheath models proposed in the literature adopt either relativistic equilibrium distribution functions or non-relativistic non-equilibrium distribution functions, making it impossible to properly capture the physics involved when both relativistic and non-equilibrium effects are important. Here we tackle this issue by solving the electrostatic Vlasov–Poisson equations with a new class of fully-relativistic distribution functions that can describe non-equilibrium features via a real scalar parameter. After having discussed the general properties of the distribution functions and the resulting plasma sheath model, we establish an approach to investigate the effect of non-equilibrium solely. Then, we apply our approach to describe laser–plasma ion acceleration in the target normal sheath acceleration scheme. Results show how different degrees of non-equilibrium lead to the formation of sheaths with significantly different features, thereby having a relevant impact on the ion acceleration process. We believe that this approach can offer a deeper understanding of relativistic plasma sheaths, opening new perspectives in view of their applications.https://doi.org/10.1088/1367-2630/ab83cfplasma sheathrelativistic Vlasov equationhot electronslaser-driven ion accelerationTNSA modelingnon-equilibrium distribution function |
| spellingShingle | A Formenti A Maffini M Passoni Non-equilibrium effects in a relativistic plasma sheath model New Journal of Physics plasma sheath relativistic Vlasov equation hot electrons laser-driven ion acceleration TNSA modeling non-equilibrium distribution function |
| title | Non-equilibrium effects in a relativistic plasma sheath model |
| title_full | Non-equilibrium effects in a relativistic plasma sheath model |
| title_fullStr | Non-equilibrium effects in a relativistic plasma sheath model |
| title_full_unstemmed | Non-equilibrium effects in a relativistic plasma sheath model |
| title_short | Non-equilibrium effects in a relativistic plasma sheath model |
| title_sort | non equilibrium effects in a relativistic plasma sheath model |
| topic | plasma sheath relativistic Vlasov equation hot electrons laser-driven ion acceleration TNSA modeling non-equilibrium distribution function |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1088/1367-2630/ab83cf |
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