Ridgers, C. P. orcid.org/0000-0002-4078-0887, Arran, C. orcid.org/0000-0002-8644-8118, Bissell, J. J. et al. (1 more author) (2021) The inadequacy of a magnetohydrodynamic approach to the Biermann battery. Philosophical transactions. Series A, Mathematical, physical, and engineering sciences. 20200017. ISSN 1471-2962
Abstract
Magnetic fields can be generated in plasmas by the Biermann battery when the electric field produced by the electron pressure gradient has a curl. The commonly employed magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) model of the Biermann battery breaks down when the electron distribution function is distorted away from Maxwellian. Using both MHD and kinetic simulations of a laser-plasma interaction relevant to inertial confinement fusion we have shown that this distortion can reduce the Biermann-producing electric field by around 50%. More importantly, the use of a flux limiter in an MHD treatment to deal with the effect of the non-Maxwellian electron distribution on electron thermal transport leads to a completely unphysical prediction of the Biermann-producing electric field and so results in erroneous predictions for the generated magnetic field. This article is part of a discussion meeting issue 'Prospects for high gain inertial fusion energy (part 2)'.
Metadata
Authors/Creators: |
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Keywords: | high intensity laser, inertial confinement fusion, magnetic field, plasma | ||||
Dates: |
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Institution: | The University of York | ||||
Academic Units: | The University of York > Faculty of Sciences (York) > Physics (York) | ||||
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Depositing User: | Pure (York) | ||||
Date Deposited: | 04 Jan 2021 17:00 | ||||
Last Modified: | 05 Jan 2024 00:19 | ||||
Published Version: | https://doi.org/10.1098/rsta.2020.0017 | ||||
Status: | Published | ||||
Refereed: | Yes | ||||
Identification Number: | https://doi.org/10.1098/rsta.2020.0017 | ||||
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