Measurement of ion acceleration and diffusion in a laser-driven magnetized plasma

Journal article

Here we present results from an experiment performed at the GSI Helmholtz Center for Heavy Ion Research. A mono-energetic beam of chromium ions with initial energies of  ~ 450 MeV was fired through a magnetized interaction region formed by the collision of two counter-propagating laser-ablated plasma jets. While laser interferometry revealed the absence of strong fluid-scale turbulence, acceleration and diffusion of the beam ions was driven by wave-particle interactions. A possible mechanism is particle acceleration by electrostatic, short scale length kinetic turbulence, such as the lower-hybrid drift instability.

Authors: Chu, JTY; Halliday, JWD; Heaton, C; Moczulski, K; Blazevic, A

• Publication status: Published
• Peer review status: Peer reviewed
• Publisher: Nature Research
• Journal: Nature Communications
• Volume: 17
• Issue: 1
• Publication date: 2026-03-02
• Acceptance date: 2026-02-18
• DOI: 10.1038/s41467-026-70113-y
• EISSN: 2041-1723
• ISSN: 2041-1723
• Language: English
• Keywords: Particle acceleration; Kinetic energy; Acceleration; Plasma; Beam (structure); Ion; Plasma diffusion; Diffusion