Laser driven shocks in a large magnetized plasma

We will present experiments on the interaction of an energetic laser-produced plasma with a large magnetoplasma. Laser intensities in excess of 10$^{12}$ W/cm$^2$ produce an ablating plasma plume with expansion velocities of several 100 km/s. Prior to the laser pulse an ambient plasma with a length of 18 m and a dimater of 50 cm is created at 2x10$^{12}$ cm$^{-3}$ and 5 eV in an axial magnetic field of 600 G (the Large Plasma Device). We observe large amplitude Alfv$\acute{e}$n waves radiated from the laser-produced plasma.