Linking early global fields, current‑driven instabilities, and long‑term plasma evolution in nanowire arrays

Establish the causal scenario connecting kiloTesla‑scale global magnetic fields predicted to arise within sub‑picosecond timescales in Si‑core/TiO2‑clad nanowire arrays under relativistic laser irradiation, the subsequent development of current‑driven Weibel‑like instabilities, and the multi‑nanosecond plasma evolution that leads to confinement of hot, dense jets.

Background

Experiments and simulations indicate early formation of strong global magnetic fields in nanowire arrays, and the authors hypothesize that these may seed Weibel‑like instabilities capable of sustaining hundreds‑tesla fields that confine plasma jets.

While both early‑time field generation and the existence of long‑lived jets are supported by data, the specific chain of processes linking these stages—field formation, instability growth, and long‑term confinement—has not been determined.