Generation of magnetized collisionless shock with high-energy lasers
Abstract
Collisionless shocks are ubiquitous in various astrophysical, heliospheric, solar-terrestrial, and laboratory phenomena. The dissipation mechanism as well as particle acceleration there is not yet clarified as of yet. Recently, laboratory astrophysics has developed, reproducing collisionless shocks in the laboratory. It is outstanding that physical parameters like Mach number and plasma beta are controllable. Although this potential ability of the laboratory experiment is attractive, the methodology of experiments or the data analysis techniques have not been well established. Here we present our recent attempt to excite a collisionless shock propagating into magnetized plasma using kilo-Jule-class high-energy lasers. With a help of laser Thomson scattering and plasma self emission measurements, we see a possible signature of the collisionless shock with Alfven Mach number larger than 20.
- Publication:
-
43rd COSPAR Scientific Assembly. Held 28 January - 4 February
- Pub Date:
- January 2021
- Bibcode:
- 2021cosp...43E.980Y