Spatial and temporal measurements of electrostatic fields of a field-aligned, magnetized laser-produced plasma expansion

POSTER

Abstract

Laser-produced plasmas (LPPs) in laboratory environments form supersonic and super-Alf\'{e}nic flows that, when properly scaled, can model naturally occurring phenomena such as shock structures in supernovae and astrophysical jets. Our interest lies in understanding the evolution of these flows and how they interact with ambient, magnetized plasma. An LPP was generated using a $10^{11}W/cm^{2}$ laser pulse on a solid target. It expanded into a pre-formed, magnetized plasma and was directed along the background magnetic field ($c_{s} <

*This experiment was conducted in the Large Plasma Device at the Basic Plasma Science Facility and funded by grants from the US Department of Energy and the National Science Foundation.

Authors

  • Jeffrey Bonde

    • Univ of California - Los Angeles

  • Stephen Vincena

    • UCLA
    • UCLA Department of Physics and Astronomy
    • Univ of California - Los Angeles

  • Walter Gekelman

    • UCLA, Dept. of Physics and Astronomy
    • University of California, Los Angeles
    • Univ of California - Los Angeles
    • UCLA Dept of Physics