10$^4$-fold amplification of a tiny magnetic field to megagauss scale in femtosecond, ultraintense laser-solid interaction

Abstract: Generating a powerful and quasistatic magnetic field within the confines of a tabletop laboratory experiment has proven to be a persistent challenge. The creation of magnetized high-energy-density plasma through such experiments presents significant opportunities for exploring several terrestrial as well as astrophysical phenomena, apart from controlling relativistic electron transport, directly relevant for fusion schemes. Here we demonstrate that the modest magnetic field (10$^{-3}$ megagauss ) in a common, readily available Neodymium magnet is amplified to 10's of megagauss levels lasting a few picoseconds, when excited by an ultraintense, femtosecond laser pulse. The experimental findings are strongly supported by particle-in-cell simulations, which not only validate the observations but also unveil a potential dynamo mechanism responsible for the enhancement and amplification of the axial magnetic field. These outcomes are of utmost importance in comprehending the intricacies of relativistic electron transport and the realm of magnetized laboratory astrophysics.