Astrophysical Jets via Laser Plasma Interaction.
Abstract
Previous laser-plasma experiments and simulations demonstrated radiatively cooled flows relevant to the propagation of astronomical Herbig-Haro jets from young stars [D.R. Farley, et al, Phys. Rev. Lett. (in press)]. The surroundings into which Herbig-Haro jets travel have densities around ten times lower than the jets, leading to bow shocks, Mach disks, internal and spur shocks, and lateral Kelvin-Helmholtz instabilities. We plan laser experiments on the Gekko laser reproducing the density contrast by propagating the plasma into foams and gases of various densities. Herbig-Haro jets are thought to be accelerated and collimated by MHD effects. Laser experiments are planned including magnetic fields which are initially frozen in the gold target, then compressed as the gold implodes along the center line focus. We will present simulations.
- Publication:
-
APS Division of Plasma Physics Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- November 1999
- Bibcode:
- 1999APS..DPP.RP196E