Experimental observation of a current-driven instability in a neutral electron-positron beam
File(s)1705.08162v2.pdf (1.01 MB)
Accepted version
Author(s)
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
We report on the first experimental observation of a current-driven instability developing in a quasineutral matter-antimatter beam. Strong magnetic fields (≥1 T) are measured, via means of a proton radiography technique, after the propagation of a neutral electron-positron beam through a background electron-ion plasma. The experimentally determined equipartition parameter of εB≈10−3 is typical of values inferred from models of astrophysical gamma-ray bursts, in which the relativistic flows are also expected to be pair dominated. The data, supported by particle-in-cell simulations and simple analytical estimates, indicate that these magnetic fields persist in the background plasma for thousands of inverse plasma frequencies. The existence of such long-lived magnetic fields can be related to analog astrophysical systems, such as those prevalent in lepton-dominated jets.
Date Issued
2017-11-03
Date Acceptance
2017-07-24
Citation
Physical Review Letters, 2017, 119 (18)
ISSN
0031-9007
Publisher
American Physical Society
Journal / Book Title
Physical Review Letters
Volume
119
Issue
18
Copyright Statement
© 2017 American Physical Society
Sponsor
Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC)
Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC)
Identifier
http://gateway.webofknowledge.com/gateway/Gateway.cgi?GWVersion=2&SrcApp=PARTNER_APP&SrcAuth=LinksAMR&KeyUT=WOS:000414336400013&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=ALL_WOS&UsrCustomerID=1ba7043ffcc86c417c072aa74d649202
Grant Number
ST/P000835/1
ST/P002021/1
Subjects
Science & Technology
Physical Sciences
Physics, Multidisciplinary
Physics
GAMMA-RAY BURSTS
LASER-PLASMA INTERACTION
MAGNETIC-FIELDS
FIREBALL MODEL
SHOCKS
ACCELERATION
GENERATION
PARAMETERS
AFTERGLOW
ENERGY
Publication Status
Published
Article Number
ARTN 185002