EPJ Web of Conferences (Nov 2013)

Laboratory experiments on plasma jets in a magnetic field using high-power lasers

  • Nishio K.,
  • Sakawa Y.,
  • Kuramitsu Y.,
  • Morita T.,
  • Ide T.,
  • Kuwada M.,
  • Koga M.,
  • Kato T.,
  • Norimatsu T.,
  • Gregory C.,
  • Woolsey N.,
  • Murphy C.,
  • Gregori G.,
  • Schaar K.,
  • Diziere A.,
  • Koenig M.,
  • Pelka A.,
  • Wang S.,
  • Dong Q.,
  • Li Y.,
  • Takabe H.

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1051/epjconf/20135915005
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 59
p. 15005

Abstract

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The experiments to simulate astrophysical jet generation are performed using Gekko XII (GXII) HIPER laser system at the Institute of Laser Engineering. In the experiments a fast plasma flow generated by shooting a CH plane (10 μm thickness) is observed at the rear side of the plane. By separating the focal spot of the main beams, a non-uniform plasma is generated. The non-uniform plasma flow in an external magnetic field (0.2∼0.3 T) perpendicular to the plasma is more collimated than that without the external magnetic field. The plasma β, the ratio between the plasma and magnetic pressure, is ≫ 1, and the magnetic Reynolds number is ∼150 in the collimated plasma. It is considered that the magnetic field is distorted by the plasma flow and enhances the jet collimation.