Laboratory Study of Microphysics in Collisionless, Quasi-Perpendicular Shock Formation

ORAL

Abstract

Magnetized, collisionless shocks are fundamental to many astrophysical phenomena, from supernova remnants to planetary bow shocks. Despite their widespread observation, key questions remain regarding the microphysical processes such as energy dissipation, particle acceleration, and non-stationary effects. Recent laboratory platforms have enabled the controlled generation of high-Mach number shocks, offering new insights into these complex systems.

We present results from a recent experiment conducted at the Omega laser facility studying the dynamics of quasi-perpendicular shock formation. A super-critical (MA > 10) piston plasma expands into a preformed, magnetized plasma at larger magnetic field than previously studied (18 T). This interaction generates a fully formed shock that we investigate with optical Thomson scattering and proton radiography. Our measurements reveal a distinctly separated piston–shock structure, with significant compression of the upstream ambient plasma. The experimental results are complimented by particle-in-cell simulation and provide a new window into the plasma dynamics characteristic of astrophysical shocks.

*This work was performed under the auspices of the U.S. Department of Energy by Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory under Contract DE-AC52-07NA27344, DE-NA0004144, by members of the Center for Matter under Extreme Conditions under Contract DE-NA0004147, and the DOE NNSA.

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Presenters

  • Robert S Dorst

    • Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

Authors

  • Robert S Dorst

    • Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

  • Eleanor Tubman

    • University of California, Berkeley

  • Michael Pokornik

    • University of California San Diego

  • Colin J Bruulsema

    • Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

  • David Jeffrey Larson

    • Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

  • Drew P Higginson

    • Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

  • Frederico Fiuza

    • Instituto Superior Tecnico

  • Mario Manuel

    • General Atomics

  • Kassie Moczulski

    • University of Rochester

  • Bradley B Pollock

    • Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

  • George F Swadling

    • Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

  • Petros Tzeferacos

    • University of Rochester

  • Hye-Sook Park

    • Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory