Time-resolved X-ray imaging of the current filamentation instability in solid-density plasmas
The streaming of energetic charged particles can magnetize astrophysical and laboratory plasmas via the current filamentation instability. Despite its importance, the experimental characterization of this instability has remained a challenge. Here, we report an experiment combining a high-intensity optical laser with a high-brightness X-ray free electron laser that successfully images the instability in solid-density plasmas with 200 nm spatial and 50 fs temporal resolution. We characterize the development of μm-scale filamentary structures and their evolution over tens of picoseconds through a non-linear merging process. The measured plasma density modulations and long merging time reveal the critical importance of space-charge effects and ion motion on this electron-driven instability. Supporting theoretical analysis and kinetic simulations help distinguish the relative role of space-charge and resistive effects. Our findings indicate that magnetic fields on the order of 10 megagauss are produced, with important implications for transport and radiation emission of energetic particles in plasmas.
Authors
- M. Gauthier (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6608-9325)
- Stefan Assenbaum (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6928-2048)
- G. D. Glenn (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5308-7977)
- S. H. Glenzer (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9112-0558)
- Sebastian Goede
- Alexis Marret (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3184-7215)
- Dimitri Khaghani (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5139-2310)
- C. B. Curry (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8756-181X)
- F. Treffert (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1277-4241)
- Christopher Schoenwaelder (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6181-4054)
- Frederico Fiúza (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8502-5535)
- M. Vescovi (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2828-5373)
- Martin Rehwald (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6200-6406)
- Stefan Funk
- Gilliss Dyer
- Karl Zeil
- Eric Cunningham
Institutions
- Darmstadt University of Applied Sciences (DE)
- University of Alberta (CA)
- Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (DE)
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (DE)
- SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory (US)
- Instituto Superior de Gestão (PT)
- Technische Universität Darmstadt (DE)
- Linac Coherent Light Source (US)
- Technische Universität Dresden (DE)
- European X-Ray Free-Electron Laser (DE)
- Stanford University (US)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Nature Communications
- Published
- 2026-01-09
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-67160-2
- Citations
- 1
- Primary Topic
- Laser-Plasma Interactions and Diagnostics
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00
Funders
- National Science Foundation
- U.S. Department of Energy
- National Energy Research Scientific Computing Center
- Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad
- Office of Science
- National Nuclear Security Administration
- SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory