Plasma physics articles within Nature Communications

Featured

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Electron beam quality in accelerators is crucial for light source application. Here the authors demonstrate beam conditioning of laser plasma electrons thanks to a specific transport line enabling the control of divergence, energy, steering and dispersion and the application to observe undulator radiation.

    • T. André
    • , I. A. Andriyash
    •  & M.-E. Couprie

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Neutron beams are useful studying fundamental physics problems, fusion process and material properties. Here the authors use intense laser irradiation of deuterated nanowire array targets to create high energy density plasmas capable of efficient generation of ultrafast neutron pulses.

    • Alden Curtis
    • , Chase Calvi
    •  & Jorge J. Rocca

  • Article
    | Open Access

    It is a challenge to scale up laser-ion acceleration to higher ion energies. Here the authors demonstrate a hybrid acceleration scheme based on the relativistic induced transparency mechanism using linearly polarised laser interaction with foil targets and its future implication in using high power lasers.

    • A. Higginson
    • , R. J. Gray
    •  & P. McKenna

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Different energy transport mechanisms come into play when intense laser pulses interact with dense plasma. Here the authors provide a limit on the plasma density reachable with an intense laser and an insight into the hole boring process.

    • Natsumi Iwata
    • , Sadaoki Kojima
    •  & Kunioki Mima

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Exploring astrophysical turbulent effects in laboratory plasma is challenging due to high threshold values of relevant parameters, such as the magnetic Reynolds number. Here the authors demonstrate the turbulent dynamo effect at large magnetic Reynolds numbers in laser-generated magnetized plasma.

    • P. Tzeferacos
    • , A. Rigby
    •  & G. Gregori

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Monoenergetic proton beams can be useful in many applications but their generation from laser irradiation of targets is challenging. Here the authors demonstrate a laser-accelerated proton bunch with improved density and energy resolution by using a refined target.

    • P. Hilz
    • , T. M. Ostermayr
    •  & J. Schreiber

  • Article
    | Open Access

    The electric wind mechanism remains unclear. Here, the authors report evidence that electric wind is caused by an electrohydrodynamic force generated by charged particle drag as a result of momentum transfer to neutral particles.

    • Sanghoo Park
    • , Uros Cvelbar
    •  & Se Youn Moon

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Recently, there has been significant progress on the application of laser-generated proton beams in material science. Here the authors demonstrate the benefit of employing such beams in stress testing different materials by examining their mechanical, optical, electrical, and morphological properties.

    • M. Barberio
    • , M. Scisciò
    •  & P. Antici

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Efficient energy transport by laser-driven relativistic electron beams is crucial in many applications including inertial confinement fusion, and particle acceleration. Here the authors demonstrate relativistic electron beam guiding in dense plasma with an externally imposed high magnetic field.

    • M. Bailly-Grandvaux
    • , J. J. Santos
    •  & Z. Zhang

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Radio observations of the solar atmosphere provide a unique view on the non-thermal processes in the outer atmosphere. Here the authors use LOFAR observations to demonstrate that the observed radio burst characteristics are dominated by propagation effects rather than underlying emission variations.

    • E. P. Kontar
    • , S. Yu
    •  & P. Subramanian

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Solar eruptions provide opportunities to study magnetic flux ropes, a structure of fundamental importance for both plasma physics and space weather. Here the authors reveal the dynamic formation of a flux rope through its footprint on the solar surface, revealing a highly twisted core structure.

    • Wensi Wang
    • , Rui Liu
    •  & Chunming Zhu

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Dispersive wave emission in gas-filled hollow-core photonic crystal fibres has been possible in the visible and ultraviolet via the optical Kerr effect. Here, Köttig et al. demonstrate dispersive waves generated by an additional transient anomalous dispersion from gas ionization in the mid-infrared.

    • F. Köttig
    • , D. Novoa
    •  & P. St.J. Russell

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Higher beam quality and stability are desired in laser-plasma accelerators for their applications in compact light sources. Here the authors demonstrate in laser plasma wakefield electron acceleration that the beam loading effect can be employed to improve beam quality by controlling the beam charge.

    • J. P. Couperus
    • , R. Pausch
    •  & A. Irman

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Vapour shielding is one of the interesting mechanisms for reducing the heat load to plasma facing components in fusion reactors. Here the authors report on the observation of a dynamic equilibrium between the plasma and the divertor liquid Sn surface leading to an overall stable surface temperature.

    • G. G. van Eden
    • , V. Kvon
    •  & T. W. Morgan

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Understanding the role of magnetic turbulence in the atmosphere is difficult as direct access is limited, but latest laser technology can enable such studies in the lab. Here the authors probe the evolution of such turbulence in laser-generated plasma with its implications to astrophysical environments.

    • Gourab Chatterjee
    • , Kevin M. Schoeffler
    •  & G. Ravindra Kumar

  • Article
    | Open Access

    The dynamic of plasma heating in solar flares can be effectively derived from observations of optical hydrogen H-α line emissions. Here the authors report the observation of a C1.5 class flare that produced two H-α ribbons, interpreted combining radiative models affected by an electron beam.

    • Malcolm Druett
    • , Eamon Scullion
    •  & Luc Rouppe Van der Voort

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Alfvén waves are fundamental plasma modes that provide a mechanism for the transfer of energy between particles and fields. Here the authors confirm experimentally the conservative energy exchange between Alfvén wave fields and plasma particles via high-resolution MMS observations of Earth’s magnetosphere.

    • Daniel J. Gershman
    • , Adolfo F-Viñas
    •  & James L. Burch

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Studying the properties of dense plasmas is challenging due to strong interactions between electrons and ions, and numerical methods overcome this difficulty using a static thermostat. Here the authors predict a strong diffusive ion mode at low energy by including dissipative processes in the model.

    • P. Mabey
    • , S. Richardson
    •  & G. Gregori

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Magnetic fusion reactors with higher ratio of plasma kinetic pressure to magnetic pressure are economically desirable. The authors demonstrate a path to such a reactor in a field reversed configuration that can attain microstability and reduced particle and thermal fluxes by manipulating the shear flow.

    • L. Schmitz
    • , D. P. Fulton
    •  & L. C. Steinhauer

  • Article
    | Open Access

    High power lasers can produce electron-positron pairs at GeV energies, but doing so through laser–laser collisions would require exceedingly high intensities. Here the authors present an all-optical scheme for pair production by irradiating near-critical-density plasmas with two counter-propagating lasers.

    • Xing-Long Zhu
    • , Tong-Pu Yu
    •  & Alexander Pukhov

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Back reaction of coronal magnetic fields on the solar surface may help to understand the coronal reconfiguration during a solar flare. Here the authors report observation of reversal of the rotation of a sunspot during a X1.6 flare with data from HMI.

    • Yi Bi
    • , Yunchun Jiang
    •  & Zhe Xu

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Early stellarator designs suffered from high particle losses, an issue that can be addressed by optimization of the coils. Here the authors measure the magnetic field lines in the Wendelstein 7-X stellarator, confirming that the complicated design of the superconducting coils has been realized successfully.

    • T. Sunn Pedersen
    • , M. Otte
    •  & Sandor Zoletnik

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Sunspots are concentration of magnetic field visible on the solar surface, which were thought to be unaffected by solar flares that take place in the solar corona. Here the authors report evidence of a flare-induced rotation of a sunspot, showing nonuniform acceleration following the peaks of X-ray emissions.

    • Chang Liu
    • , Yan Xu
    •  & Haimin Wang

  • Article
    | Open Access

    The periodical change of the Crab nebula’s jet direction challenges our understanding of astrophysical jet dynamics. Here the authors use high-power lasers to create a jet that can be directly compared to the Crab nebula’s, and report the detection of plasma instabilities that mimic kink behaviour.

    • C. K. Li
    • , P. Tzeferacos
    •  & N. C. Woolsey

  • Article
    | Open Access

    The processes that lead to losses of highly energetic particles from Earth’s radiation belts remain poorly understood. Here the authors compare observations and models of a 2013 event to show that electromagnetic ioncyclotron waves provide the dominant loss mechanism at ultra-relativistic energies.

    • Yuri Y. Shprits
    • , Alexander Y. Drozdov
    •  & Nikita A. Aseev

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Wakefield accelerators are a cheaper and compact alternative to conventional particle accelerators for high-energy physics and coherent x-ray sources. Here, the authors demonstrate a field gradient in excess of a gigaelectron-volt-per-metre using a terahertz-frequency wakefield supported by a dielectric lined-waveguide.

    • B. D. O’Shea
    • , G. Andonian
    •  & J. B. Rosenzweig

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Knowing whether a quantum phase transition is first- or second-order is crucial for understanding any associated exotic phenomena, but direct experimental evidence has been scarce. Here, Frandsen et al. report first-order magnetic quantum phase transitions in archetypal Mott systems, providing insight into the underlying quantum fluctuations.

    • Benjamin A. Frandsen
    • , Lian Liu
    •  & Yasutomo J. Uemura

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Extraction of ultra-low emittance bunches is an issue to be addressed for future applications of plasma wakefield accelerators. Here, the authors show that the field structure of the plasma could be suitable for this, by measuring the field's longitudinal variation produced by a relativistic electron bunch.

    • C. E. Clayton
    • , E. Adli
    •  & V. Yakimenko

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Plasma accelerators driven by particle beams are a promising technology, but the acceleration distance and energy gain are strongly limited by head erosion in a high-ionization-potential gas. Here the authors observe up to 130% energy boost in a self-focused electron beam, with limited head erosion.

    • S. Corde
    • , E. Adli
    •  & V. Yakimenko

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Magnetic reconnection is a fundamental process giving rise to topology change and energy release in plasmas, of particular relevance for the Sun. Here the authors report the observation of fast reconnection in a solar filament eruption, which occurs between a set of ambient fibrils and the filament itself.

    • Zhike Xue
    • , Xiaoli Yan
    •  & Li Zhao

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Stationary radiative shocks are expected to form above the surface of highly-magnetized white dwarves in binary systems, but this cannot be resolved by telescopes. Here, the authors report a laboratory experiment showing the evolution of a reverse shock when both ionization and radiative losses are important.

    • J. E. Cross
    • , G. Gregori
    •  & É. Falize

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Optical modulators are easily damaged by high-intensity pulses. Here, the authors propose a method for directly modulating high-power laser light across a broad spectral range using a wave generated in a sub-millimetre-scale underdense plasma by a second laser.

    • Lu-Le Yu
    • , Yao Zhao
    •  & Jie Zhang

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Plasma wakefield accelerators produce gradients that are orders of magnitude larger than in conventional particle accelerator, but beams tend to be disrupted by transverse forces. Here the authors create an extended hollow plasma channel, which accelerates positrons without generating transverse forces.

    • Spencer Gessner
    • , Erik Adli
    •  & Gerald Yocky

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Experimental investigations of the response of matter to ionization would require extremely fast ion pump pulses. Here, the authors explore a different approach observing ionisation dynamics in SiO2glass by generating synchronized proton pulses from the interaction of high-power lasers on a solid target.

    • B. Dromey
    • , M. Coughlan
    •  & M. Zepf

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Table-top laser-plasma ion accelerators have many potential applications, but achieving simultaneous narrow energy spread and high efficiency remains a challenge. Here, the authors produce ion beams with up to 18 MeV per nucleon whilst keeping the energy spread reduced through a self-organized process.

    • Sasi Palaniyappan
    • , Chengkun Huang
    •  & Juan C. Fernández

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Short pulses of high intensity laser light usually heat the ions in dense plasmas indirectly via collisions with the electrons. Here, the authors identify an extremely rapid alternative heating mechanism based on ion-ion collisions.

    • A. E. Turrell
    • , M. Sherlock
    •  & S. J. Rose

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Pulses of light offer a way to create particle accelerators that are a fraction of the size of conventional approaches. Here, the authors demonstrate the linear acceleration of electrons with kiloelectronvolt energy gain and in extremely short bunches using optically-generated terahertz pulses.

    • Emilio A. Nanni
    • , Wenqian R. Huang
    •  & Franz X. Kärtner

  • Article
    | Open Access

    The wetting on soft surfaces is less understood than that on rigid ones because it is challenging to quantify substrate deformation. Here, the authors monitor the deformation over a large range of droplet velocities, and propose a dynamical model that captures contact line motion and depinning.

    • S. Karpitschka
    • , S. Das
    •  & J. H. Snoeijer

Browse broader subjects

Browse narrower subjects

Browse Plasma physics across other nature.com journals