Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astrophysics
Scientific paper
Dec 2010
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2010agufmsh11b1642t&link_type=abstract
American Geophysical Union, Fall Meeting 2010, abstract #SH11B-1642
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astrophysics
[7513] Solar Physics, Astrophysics, And Astronomy / Coronal Mass Ejections, [7519] Solar Physics, Astrophysics, And Astronomy / Flares, [7531] Solar Physics, Astrophysics, And Astronomy / Prominence Eruptions, [7594] Solar Physics, Astrophysics, And Astronomy / Instruments And Techniques
Scientific paper
Arched magnetic flux ropes (AMFRs) are arch-shaped twisted magnetic-structures that confine plasma and carry electrical current. Coronal loops and solar prominences are the main examples of AMFRs in the solar atmosphere. Solar AMFRs appear stable for long duration (several Alfven transit times) and then suddenly erupt due to occurrence of instabilities (e.g., kink instability). Solar AMFR eruptions have been frequently observed to evolve into more energetic events such as solar flares and coronal mass ejections. A laboratory plasma experiment has been constructed to simulate such eruptions in an ambient magnetized plasma. The laboratory AMFR (n ~ 1019 m-3 , Te ~ 10 eV, B ~ 1 kG, L ~ 0.5 m) is produced using an annular LaB6 cathode and an annular anode mounted on two movable shafts in a vacuum chamber (1.0 m diameter, 4.5 m long). Each AMFR electrode has an electromagnet to produce a vacuum magnetic field along the curved axis of the AMFR. The vacuum chamber has an additional plasma source and electromagnets to produce the ambient magnetized plasma (n ~ 1018 m-3, Te ~ 4 eV, B ~ 25 G). Two laser beams (1064 nm, ~0.5 J/pulse) strike movable carbon targets placed behind the orifices of the electrodes to generate controlled plasma flows from the AMFR footpoints that drives the eruption. The experiment operates with a 0.5 Hz repetition rate and is highly reproducible. Thus, time evolution of the AMFR is recorded in three-dimensions with high spatio-temporal resolutions using movable diagnostic probes. Initial results on the dramatic eruption of an arched magnetic flux rope will be presented that demonstrate outward expansion of the AMFR, release of the AMFR plasma to the background, and excitation of magnetosonic waves in the ambient plasma. Reference: S. K. P. Tripathi and W. Gekelman, Phys. Rev. Lett. 105, 075005 *Work supported by US DOE and NSF Fast camera image of a laboratory AMFR. Laser generated flows can be seen emanating from the both footpoints of the AMFR.
Gekelman W. N.
Tripathi Sachchida
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