Collisionless shock and supernova remnant simulations on VULCAN

Abstract

The VULCAN ͓C. N. Danson et al., Opt. Commun. 103, 392 ͑1993͔͒ laser at the UK Central Laser Facility is being used for laboratory-based simulations of collisionless shocks. By ensuring that key dimensionless parameters in the experiments have values similar to those of supernova remnants ͑SNRs͒, the hydrodynamics and magnetic field of the experiment are scaled to those of a SNR. This makes it possible to investigate experimentally the physics of collisionless magnetized shocks in such objects. The experiments are providing data against which to test current theory. Collisionless shock formation and the interaction of two counterpropagating colliding plasmas permeated by a strong magnetic field are discussed.

Experimental evidence for collisional shock formation via two obliquely merging supersonic plasma jets

“…Related studies include counter-streaming laser-produced plasmas supporting hohlraum design for indirect-drive inertial confinement fusion [17][18][19] and for studying astrophysically relevant shocks, [20][21][22][23][24] colliding plasmas using wire-array Z pinches, 25,26 and applications such as pulsed laser deposition 27 and laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy. 28 Primary issues of interest in these studies include the identification of shock formation, the formation of a stagnation layer [29][30][31] between colliding plasmas, and the possible role of two-fluid and kinetic effects on plasma interpenetration.…”

High Mach-number collisionless shock driven by a laser with an external magnetic field

“…It is important to investigate the effect of external magnetic fields on a shock formation because there are weak ambient magnetic fields in the galaxy. Collisionless plasma interactions have been investigated to simulate SNR shocks [5,6], however, no shocks were observed early in time t = 500 ps in which the plasma beta in the experiment, the ratio of the ram pressure of a plasma flow to the magnetic pressure ( = (n i m i v 2 i /2)/(B 2 /2 0 )), was comparable to that of typical SNRs. Harilal et al have investigated the dynamics of expanding laser-produced plasmas across a transverse magnetic field in a high condition [7].…”

Modeling multidimensional effects in the propagation of radiative shocks

“…These experiments can also be considered as the most relevant approach to check assumptions and to provide hints and new ideas to address open questions or issues such as radiative shocks in astrophysics. High-energy density laboratory astrophysics (HEDLA) experiments are mostly driven on largescale lasers 6,7,8,9,10,11 or on Z-pinches. 12,13 In a first kind of experiment, one measures microscopic quantities required for the determination of the equation of state and the opacities of hot and dense matter found in giant planet interiors or in stellar atmospheres.…”