Modeling of magnetized astrophysical objects through the study of magnetized rear-driven plasma jets from thin foil targets


Modeling of magnetized astrophysical objects through the study of magnetized rear-driven plasma jets from thin foil targets

Perez-Martin, P.; Smid, M.; Hronová, L.; Bouffetier, V.; Bott, A.; Brack, F.-E.; Červenák, M.; Donat, F.; Gajdoš, P.; Kozlová, M.; Kroll, F.; Manuel, M.; Pan, X.; Prencipe, I.; Singh, S.; Sobiella, M.; Krus, M.; Falk, K.

Plasma jets can be found in astrophysical systems (Accretion disks[1][2], Polars [3] or Young
Stellar Objects [4]), but they are also useful as a platform to study plasma properties and transport
effects. On a experiment at the PALS facility, we have studied the formation and propagation
of rear-driven, collisional plasma jets from different foil thicknesses and materials when
subject to an intense external magnetic field.
Magnetic fields were generated using a pair of Helmholtz coils that provide 5-10 T in the
direction perpendicular to the jet propagation. The diagnostics used were the streaked optical
self-emission as a measurement of jet velocity, and 4-frame interferometry as a measurement of
the jet density.
With the right scaling factors, this data can help model the accretion of matter into magnetized
astrophysical systems, such as the surface of Young Stellar Objects, as well as the role that
instabilities play in this process [4].
The work was supported by the Helmholtz Association under Grant No. VH-NG-1338
[1] G. Revet et al., Science Advances 3, 11 (2017)
[2] Kulkarni, A. K. & Romanova, M. M. , Monthly Notices RAS 386, (2008)
[3] E. Falize, et al., Astrophysics and Space Science 336, 81 (2011)
[4] Burdonov, K. et al., A&A 657, A112 (2022)

Keywords: Plasma flows; Laboratory astrophysics; Magnetized plasma; High magnetic fields; Magnetosphere physics; Young Stellar Objects

  • Lecture (Conference)
    64th Annual Meeting of the APS Division of Plasma Physics, 16.-21.10.2022, Spokane, United States of America

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Publ.-Id: 36223