Enhanced x-ray emission arising from laser-plasma confinement by a strong transverse magnetic field

We analyze, using experiments and 3D MHD numerical simulations, the dynamics and radiative properties of a plasma ablated by a laser (1 ns, 10$^{12}$-10$^{13}$ W/cm$^2$) from a solid target, as it expands into a homogeneous, strong magnetic field (up to 30 T) transverse to its main expansion axis. We find that as soon as 2 ns after the start of the expansion, the plasma becomes constrained by the magnetic field. As the magnetic field strength is increased, more plasma is confined close to the target and is heated by magnetic compression. We also observe a dense slab that rapidly expands into vacuum after ~ 8 ns; however, this slab contains only ~ 2 % of the total plasma. As a result of the higher density and increased heating of the confined plasma, there is a net enhancement of the total x-ray emissivity induced by the magnetization.
15 pages, 4 figures, Supplementary Information, submitted to PRL