Seeded mega-Gauss turbulence in dense fusion target plasmas

Abstract

Fine scale variations in the chemical composition of a dense plasma target (such as a plasma produced by a focused laser or REB pulse) give rise to corresponding spatial fluctuations in the electron density which persist until dispersed by diffusive or turbulent mixing. In the presence of a sufficiently steep background temperature gradient these density fluctuations are expected to give rise to mega-Gauss magnetic field fluctuations for plasma temperatures of about a kilovolt. Composition fluctuations would also produce resistivity fluctuations in low-temperature targets and generate large fields in current-carrying plasmas. This phenomenon may be of interest in the design of targets for electron beam driven fusion.