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Investigation of Early Plasma Evolution Induced by Ultrashort Laser Pulses
Published on: July 2, 2012
Observation of kinetic plasma jets in a coronal-loop simulation experiment
S K P Tripathi1, P M Bellan, G S Yun
1Applied Physics, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA.
Physical Review Letters
|May 16, 2007
Summary
Laboratory simulations reveal that intense kinetic plasma jets can erupt from coronal plasma loops. This occurs due to a particle orbit instability in helical magnetic fields, ejecting ions with high countercurrent axial velocity.
Area of Science:
- Plasma physics
- Astrophysics
- Solar physics
Background:
- Coronal plasma loops are structures in the Sun's atmosphere.
- Laboratory simulations are used to study plasma phenomena.
- Particle orbit instabilities can lead to complex plasma behaviors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the mechanism behind kinetic plasma jet formation.
- To understand the role of magnetic fields and particle velocity in jet ejection.
- To model coronal plasma loop dynamics in a laboratory setting.
Main Methods:
- Conducting laboratory simulations of coronal plasma loops.
- Employing analytic models to describe particle behavior.
- Utilizing numerical models to simulate plasma dynamics.
Main Results:
- Observed intense kinetic plasma jets emerging from simulated coronal plasma loops.
- Identified a particle orbit instability in helical magnetic fields as the cause.
- Demonstrated that magnetic forces eject ions with sufficient countercurrent axial velocity.
Conclusions:
- Kinetic plasma jets are generated by particle orbit instabilities.
- Helical magnetic fields and ion velocity are critical factors in jet formation.
- Laboratory simulations provide insights into solar atmospheric phenomena.
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