Laboratory observation of ion drift acceleration via reflection off laser-produced magnetized collisionless shocks.

ABSTRACT: Fermi acceleration is believed to be the primary mechanism to produce high-energy charged particles in the Universe, where charged particles gain energy successively from multiple reflections. Here, we present the direct laboratory experimental evidence of ion energization from single reflection off a supercritical collisionless shock, an essential component of Fermi acceleration, in a laser-produced magnetized plasma. A quasi-monoenergetic ion beam with two to four times the shock velocity was observed, which is consistent with the fast ion component observed in the Earth's bow shock. Our simulations reproduced the energy gain and showed that ions were accelerated mainly by the motional electric field during reflection. The results identify shock drift acceleration as the dominant ion ene

SUBMITTER: Tang HB 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11818023 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature