Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 29, 2025

Building Langmuir Probes and Emissive Probes for Plasma Potential Measurements in Low Pressure, Low Temperature Plasmas
Published on: May 25, 2021
Characterization of Quasi-Keplerian, Differentially Rotating, Free-Boundary Laboratory Plasmas
V Valenzuela-Villaseca1, L G Suttle1, F Suzuki-Vidal1
1Blackett Laboratory, Imperial College London, London SW7 2BW, United Kingdom.
Abstract:
We present results from pulsed-power driven differentially rotating plasma experiments designed to simulate physics relevant to astrophysical disks and jets. In these experiments, angular momentum is injected by the ram pressure of the ablation flows from a wire array Z pinch. In contrast to previous liquid metal and plasma experiments, rotation is not driven by boundary forces. Axial pressure gradients launch a rotating plasma jet upward, which is confined by a combination of ram, thermal, and magnetic pressure of a surrounding plasma halo. The jet has subsonic rotation, with a maximum rotation velocity 23±3 km/s. The rotational velocity profile is quasi-Keplerian with a positive Rayleigh discriminant κ^{2}∝r^{-2.8±0.8} rad^{2}/s^{2}. The plasma completes 0.5-2 full rotations in the experimental time frame (∼150 ns).
Related Concept Videos
Kepler's Second Law of Planetary Motion
While in an elliptical orbit, the total energy of the planet is conserved. Therefore, the planet slows down when it is at apogee and...
Kepler's First Law of Planetary Motion
Polish astronomer Nikolaus Copernicus put forth a theory that stated a heliocentric model for the solar system. According to this heliocentric theory, all the planets, including Earth, orbit the Sun in circular orbits.
On the other hand,...
Steady, Laminar Flow Between Parallel Plates
Kinetic Theory of an Ideal Gas
The number of molecules in one mole is called...
Equilibrium Conditions for a Particle
To understand the concept of equilibrium, let us first consider the forces acting on an object. When different forces act on an object, they can...
Boundary Layer Characteristics

