OMEGA laser-driven hydrodynamic plasma jet experiments with relevance to astrophysics

Details OMEGA laser-driven hydrodynamic plasma jet experiments with relevance to astrophysics OMEGA laser-driven hydrodynamic plasma jet experiments with relevance to astrophysics

Jun 2008

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2008phdt........23s&link_type=abstract

Proquest Dissertations And Theses 2008. Section 0188, Part 0606 138 pages; [Ph.D. dissertation].United States -- New York: Univ

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astrophysics

Hydrodynamics, High-Energy Density, Laboratory Astrophysics, Jet Models, Laser Plasma, Plasma Jets

Scientific paper

Plasma jets are ubiquitous consequences of stellar and galactic evolution. Well resolved astronomical jets are observed to have numerous internal shock wave structures [1]. There is great interest in determining the origins of these structures. The initial conditions and early evolution of outflows cannot be observed by current telescopes because of resolution limits or obscuration from the relatively dense gas and dust close to the jet source. By the time a jet is discernible, it has usually propagated many jet radii from its source.
Laboratory experiments provide the only direct probe of the early hydrodynamic stages of jet evolution. The plasma jet experiments described in this thesis were performed on the University of Rochester's OMEGA laser [2], using various drive configurations. Single pulsed jets are created by one set of laser beams. Double pulsed jets are created by two sets of laser beams separated in time. Single pulsed jets were generated with the same laser beams as either one set or both sets used to generate the double pulsed jets. The comparison of the two types of jets is being carried out for the first time.
Quantitative comparisons between astrophysical models and experimental data show that an adaibatic astrophysical jet model [3] provides a better fit to jet bow shock profiles and internal jet features than a momentum-driven model [4]. Jet sizes at a given age were consistent with the energy-driven model.
The OMEGA laser experiments created millimeter-sized hydrodynamic plasma jets with velocities, energy densities, and jet-to-ambient density contrasts relevant to astronomical jets. The bow shock profiles of the experimental jets are fit by a ballistic bow shock model, distinguishing them as adaibatic jets. These jet experiments provide the first laboratory test of the adiabatic model in reference [3] and extend the applicable regime of impulsive, adiabatic jet simulations to higher density contrasts.

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