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Supersonic plasma turbulence in the laboratory.
T G White1,2, M T Oliver3,4, P Mabey3,5
1Department of Physics, University of Oxford, Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3PU, UK. tgwhite@unr.edu.
Nature Communications
|April 17, 2019
Summary
Supersonic plasma turbulence, crucial for star formation, was experimentally studied. Results show its properties align with astrophysical observations, transitioning from Kolmogorov-like to Burgers-like behavior with increasing Mach number.
Area of Science:
- Astrophysical plasma physics
- Fluid dynamics
Background:
- Compressible plasma turbulence significantly influences astrophysical systems, including star formation and galactic evolution.
- Observations in molecular clouds reveal deviations from incompressible turbulence predictions, attributed to high Mach numbers in the interstellar medium (ISM).
Purpose of the Study:
- To experimentally investigate the statistical behavior of supersonic, compressible plasma turbulence.
- To understand the Mach number dependence of turbulence properties in astrophysical contexts.
Main Methods:
- Creation of boundary-free supersonic turbulence via the collision of two laser-driven, high-velocity plasma jets.
- Experimental measurement of density and velocity power spectra.
Main Results:
- The experimental results demonstrate a Mach number dependence of the density and velocity power spectra slopes.
- These findings align with observations from astrophysical systems like the Orion B and Perseus molecular clouds.
Conclusions:
- The study supports the transition of turbulence from Kolmogorov-like at low Mach numbers to Burgers-like at high Mach numbers.
- Experimental data validates theoretical models and astrophysical observations of supersonic plasma turbulence.
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