Mega-Gauss Plasma Jet Creation Using a Ring of Laser Beams

L. Gao, E. Liang, Y. Lu, R. K. Follet, H. Sio, P. Tzeferacos, D. H. Froula, A. Birkel, C. K. Li, D. Lamb, R. Petrasso, W. Fu, M. Wei, H. Ji

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

15 Scopus citations

Abstract

Using 20 OMEGA laser beams at the Laboratory for Laser Energetics, University of Rochester, to irradiate a flat plastic target in a hollow ring configuration, we created supersonic cylindrical stable plasma jets with self-generated megagauss magnetic fields extending out to >4 mm. These well-collimated magnetized jets possess a number of distinct and novel properties that will allow us to study the dynamics, physical processes, and scaling properties of astrophysical jets with a dynamic range exceeding those of previous laboratory settings. The dimensionless parameters of these laboratory jets fall in the same regime as those of young stellar object jets. These jets will also provide new versatile laser-based platforms to study magnetized shocks, shear flows, and other plasma processes under controllable conditions.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article numberL11
JournalAstrophysical Journal Letters
Volume873
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - 2019

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Astronomy and Astrophysics
  • Space and Planetary Science

Keywords

  • hydrodynamics
  • magnetic fields
  • stars: jets

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