Particle simulation studies on behavior of laser-produced high-β plasma in a magnetic field

Macroscopic and microscopic behaviors of the laser-produced high-β plasma have been studied by the magnetostatic particle simulation code. The expansion process of the plasma, the re-thermalization phenomena, the structure of high-β sheath and the instability are examined in detail. As the plasma radius becomes maximum, the shell structure of the density appears. The thermalization of the expansion energy occurs and the instability arises in this shell. This instability is similar to that observed in the experiments [IPPJ-424], and the growth rate is almost equal to that of the lower-hibrid-drift instability. When the expansion stops, the width of the sheath is nearly equal to the hybrid Larmor radius rho sub(ei) = √rho sub(ce).rho sub(ci) (rho sub(ce), rho sub(ci); the electron and ion Larmor radius, respectively.). (author)