Stopping power in nonideal and strongly coupled plasmas

Correct calculation of nitrogen charge state passing through highly ionized carbon plasmas

In the present work, we reanalyze the energy loss experimental data from Cayzac et al. [Nat. Commun. 8, 15693 (2017)10.1038/ncomms15693] using our successful ion charge state theoretical model. We predict lower nitrogen charge values, from 3.5+ to 5.0+, than the ones calculated by Cayzac et al., fitting better to their data. For energy loss estimations, we use the same stopping model, so our predictions agree better with the experimental data only due to our charge state model. Different projectile electron loss and capture processes are taken into account to estimate the projectile charge state. The projectile electron loss, or ionization, with plasma ions and free electrons are considered. On the other hand, the projectile electron capture, or recombination, with plasma free or bound electrons are also considered. The projectile ionization with plasma ions is shown as the main factor that modifies the mean charge of the projectile. Here, the new Kaganovich fitting formula for this projectile ionization is used because it seems to be more accurate than Gryzinsky's fitting in the low energy range. Our charge state model fits better with experimental data than any other model in the bibliography. Thus, it should be considered in any charge state and any energy loss estimation to obtain reliable results in future work.

Dynamic properties of the energy loss of multi-MeV charged particles traveling in two-component warm dense plasmas

The energy loss of multi-MeV charged particles moving in two-component warm dense plasmas (WDPs) is studied theoretically beyond the random-phase approximation. The short-range correlations between particles are taken into account via dynamic local field corrections (DLFC) in a Mermin dielectric function for two-component plasmas. The mean ionization states are obtained by employing the detailed configuration accounting model. The Yukawa-type effective potential is used to derive the DLFC. Numerically, the DLFC are obtained via self-consistent iterative operations. We find that the DLFC are significant around the maximum of the stopping power. Furthermore, by using the two-component extended Mermin dielectric function model including the DLFC, the energy loss of a proton with an initial energy of ∼15 MeV passing through a WDP of beryllium with an electronic density around the solid value n_{e}≈3×10^{23}cm^{-3} and with temperature around ∼40 eV is estimated numerically. The numerical result is reasonably consistent with the experimental observations [A. B. Zylsta et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 111, 215002 (2013)PRLTAO0031-900710.1103/PhysRevLett.111.215002]. Our results show that the partial ionization and the dynamic properties should be of importance for the stopping of charged particles moving in the WDP.

Predictions for the energy loss of light ions in laser-generated plasmas at low and medium velocities

The energy loss of light ions in dense plasmas is investigated with special focus on low to medium projectile energies, i.e., at velocities where the maximum of the stopping power occurs. In this region, exceptionally large theoretical uncertainties remain and no conclusive experimental data are available. We perform simulations of beam-plasma configurations well suited for an experimental test of ion energy loss in highly ionized, laser-generated carbon plasmas. The plasma parameters are extracted from two-dimensional hydrodynamic simulations, and a Monte Carlo calculation of the charge-state distribution of the projectile ion beam determines the dynamics of the ion charge state over the whole plasma profile. We show that the discrepancies in the energy loss predicted by different theoretical models are as high as 20-30%, making these theories well distinguishable in suitable experiments.

Dielectric function of dense plasmas, their stopping power, and sum rules

Mathematical, particularly, asymptotic properties of the random-phase approximation, Mermin approximation, and extended Mermin-type approximation of the coupled plasma dielectric function are analyzed within the method of moments. These models are generalized for two-component plasmas. Some drawbacks and advantages of the above models are pointed out. The two-component plasma stopping power is shown to be enhanced with respect to that of the electron fluid.

Energy deposition of multi-MeV protons in compressed targets of fast-ignition inertial confinement fusion

The energy loss and penetration of multi-megelectronvolt protons into a uniform deuterium-tritium (DT) plasma has been calculated. The effects of nuclear elastic scattering and Coulomb interactions are treated from a unified point of view. In general, multiple scattering enhances the proton linear-energy transfer along the initial proton direction, thus the energy deposition increases near the end of its range. The net effect of multiple scattering is to reduce the penetration from 1.20 to 1.02 g cm-2 for 12 MeV protons in a ρ=500 g cm-3 plasma at T=5 keV. These results should have relevance to proton fast ignition, specifically to energy deposition calculations that critically assess quantitative ignition requirements.

Multiple scattering of slow ions in a partially degenerate electron fluid

We extend former investigation to a partially degenerate electron fluid at any temperature of multiple slow ion scattering at T=0. We implement an analytic and mean-field interpolation of the target electron dielectric function between T=0 (Lindhard) and T-->infinity (Fried-Conte). A specific attention is given to multiple scattering of proton projectiles in the keV energy range, stopped in a hot-electron plasma at solid density.

Dynamic polarization and energy dissipation for charged particles moving in magnetized two-component plasmas

Energy losses of test particles in magnetized two-component plasmas are investigated within the framework of the linearized Vlasov-Poisson theory, taking into account the dynamic polarization effects of both the plasma ions and electrons. General expressions of the potential and stopping power are obtained and calculations are performed for protons in a magnetized hydrogen plasma. The influences of the magnetic field, the angle between the proton velocity and magnetic field, and certain plasma parameters on the stopping power are studied. Numerical results show that for low particle velocities and strong magnetic field the dynamic polarization effects of the plasma ions become obvious and contribute mainly to the stopping power.

Fast-projectile stopping power of quantal multicomponent strongly coupled plasmas

The Bethe-Larkin formula for the fast-projectile stopping power is extended to multicomponent plasmas. The results are to contribute to the correct interpretation of the experimental data, which could permit us to test existing and future models of thermodynamic, static, and dynamic characteristics of strongly coupled Coulomb systems.

Interaction of ions and ion clusters with a disordered electron gas: collective and single-particle excitations

In this paper, we report results on our theoretical studies of stopping power contributions from single-particle and plasmon excitations. We have introduced an equipartition ratio defined as the ratio of stopping contributions from plasmon and single-particle excitations, respectively. Within the linear response theory we have made a comprehensive investigation of this equipartition ratio for fast pointlike and extended projectile ions in a disordered electron gas; the latter is modeled by a degenerate electron gas of metallic densities and with disorder being incorporated within a relaxation-time approximation. As simple but useful examples of pointlike and extended projectiles we have considered proton and He+ ion, as well as diproton and He+ ion clusters. We present detailed and comparative results for the equipartition ratio corresponding to several values of the damping parameter which characterizes disorder in our model. The results are also compared, wherever applicable, with those for individual, i.e., uncorrelated projectiles.

Energy loss of a charged particle in a magnetized quantum plasma

This paper investigates the stopping power of a weakly coupled magnetized plasma. The effect of the Larmor rotation of the heavy charged test particle is carefully analyzed. The dielectric formalism is employed to obtain a general expression for the stopping power. A quantum mechanical form of the random-phase approximation dielectric function is used so that an arbitrary cutoff procedure is not required. Simple analytical expressions for the stopping power have been found for the cases of high and low projectile velocity of the test particle. The dependence of the stopping power on the angle of incidence is studied. A comparison with numerical solutions is given. It is found that in general a magnetic field reduces the stopping power of the plasma at high velocities, while it increases the stopping power at low velocities.

Laser-assisted stopping power of a hot plasma for a system of correlated ions

The laser-assisted stopping power of a fully ionized plasma for the system of two correlated test charges is investigated. The general expressions for the stopping power are applied to a low-density and a low-temperature plasma in a low-energy beam-plasma experiment [J. Jacoby et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 74, 1550 (1995)]. The effect of the interaction between the beam test charges, described by a correlation term, is to increase the stopping power of the laser-assisted plasma compared to the case where the charges are infinitely separated. However, the laser field affects the correlation between the test charges and contributes to decrease the plasma stopping power, as compared to the laser-free dicluster case.

Beam-plasma coupling effects on the stopping power of dense plasmas

The stopping power for ion beams in dense plasmas is investigated on the basis of quantum kinetic equations. Strong correlations between the beam ions and the plasma particles which occur for high ion charge numbers and strongly coupled plasmas are treated on the level of the statically screened T-matrix (binary collision) approximation. Dynamic screening effects are included using a combined scheme which considers both close collisions and collective effects. Applying this approach, the ion charge number dependence of the stopping power is determined. The result is a modification of the Z(2)(b) scaling law. In particular, the stopping power is reduced for strong beam-plasma coupling. Good agreement is found between T-matrix results and simulation data (particle-in-cell and molecular dynamics) for low beam velocities.