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Theory and Application of Thomson Scattering to Particle Transport and Magnetic Field Measurements in Laser-Produced Plasmas
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- Author / Creator
- Bruulsema, Colin
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The particle transport, plasma currents, and magnetic fields were investigated in laboratory plasmas, both with the Optical Thomson Scattering (OTS) diagnostic and in theory and numerical simulations. %despite the presence of hot ion tails, which would be more suppressed by collisions in real counter-streaming plasma Weibel-unstable plasma was simulated using the OSIRIS particle-in-cell code to examine the capabilities of the OTS diagnostics in counter-streaming plasmas. Synthetic OTS spectra were generated from the simulations, allowing OTS measurement uncertainties to be analyzed. Accurate measurements of current were demonstrated and applied to magnetic field calculations. In experiments at the OMEGA laser facility and MAGPIE pulsed power device, this technique was used successfully to measure magnetic field structures formed in plasma. In order to understand plasma ablation in Inertial Confinement Fusion (ICF) experiments, metal spheres were shot at the OMEGA laser facility. Ablated plasma was measured with OTS, with basic plasma properties in good agreement with simulations. Heat transport was measured using the ion acoustic wave spectrum, finding heat fluxes consistent with local transport in the second half of the shot duration, but strongly inhibited during the initial laser heating period. Theory and application of the OTS heat transport measurements were supported by Vlasov-Fokker-Planck simulations to determine the electron distribution functions and the resulting OTS spectra.
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- Subjects / Keywords
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- Graduation date
- Spring 2023
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- Type of Item
- Thesis
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- Degree
- Doctor of Philosophy
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- License
- This thesis is made available by the University of Alberta Libraries with permission of the copyright owner solely for non-commercial purposes. This thesis, or any portion thereof, may not otherwise be copied or reproduced without the written consent of the copyright owner, except to the extent permitted by Canadian copyright law.