Weibel instability development in femtosecond‑laser flat‑target plasmas

Clarify the physics governing the development of Weibel instability in plasmas generated by high‑intensity femtosecond laser pulses on flat solid targets, as probed by time‑resolved measurements reporting ~100 T magnetic fields sustained for many nanoseconds, in order to reconcile experimental observations with theoretical understanding and modeling.

Background

Recent experiments on time‑resolved Weibel instability in femtosecond‑laser‑driven flat targets reported magnetic fields of ~100 T persisting for many nanoseconds, suggesting a possible pathway for long‑timescale field sustainment.

The authors note that understanding this instability’s development is important both for interpreting the flat‑target results and for assessing whether similar or stronger Weibel‑like processes could sustain hundreds‑tesla fields in nanowire arrays, but the underlying physics remains insufficiently understood.