First Measurements of Rayleigh-Taylor-Induced Magnetic Fields in Laser-produced Plasmas

The first experimental demonstration of Rayleigh-Taylor-induced magnetic fields due to the Biermann battery effect has been made. Experiments with laser-irradiated plastic foils were performed to investigate these illusive fields using a monoenergetic proton radiography system. Path-integrated B field strength measurements were inferred from radiographs and found to increase from 10 to 100  T μm during the linear growth phase for 120  μm perturbations. Proton fluence modulations were corrected for Coulomb scattering using measured areal density profiles from x-ray radiographs.United States. Dept. of Energy (grant DE-FG52-09NA29553)University of Rochester. Fusion Science Center (grant 415023-G)University of Rochester. Laboratory for Laser Energetics (grant 414090-G)Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (grant B580243)National Laser User’s Facility (grant DE-NA0000877