Abstract
We report a laser-plasma experiment that was carried out at the LMJ-PETAL facility and realized the first magnetized, turbulent, supersonic (Ma_{turb}≈2.5) plasma with a large magnetic Reynolds number (Rm≈45) in the laboratory. Initial seed magnetic fields were amplified, but only moderately so, and did not become dynamically significant. A notable absence of magnetic energy at scales smaller than the outer scale of the turbulent cascade was also observed. Our results support the notion that moderately supersonic, low-magnetic-Prandtl-number plasma turbulence is inefficient at amplifying magnetic fields compared to its subsonic, incompressible counterpart.
Highlights
We report a laser-plasma experiment that was carried out at the Laser Megajoule (LMJ)-PETAL facility and realized the first magnetized, turbulent, supersonic (Maturb ≈ 2.5) plasma with a large magnetic Reynolds number (Rm ≈ 45) in the laboratory
As for the applications, magnetic fields are believed to play a significant role in the turbulent, supersonic dynamics of the interstellar medium (ISM); understanding the complex interactions between the fields, shocks and vortices present in such an environment is a necessary component of a comprehensive picture of the ISM, encompassing important topics such as star formation [1,2,3,4]
One key question concerning the relationship between magnetic fields and supersonic plasma turbulence is the conditions under which the fields attain dynamical strengths
Summary
Inefficient Magnetic-Field Amplification in Supersonic Laser-Plasma Turbulence We report a laser-plasma experiment that was carried out at the LMJ-PETAL facility and realized the first magnetized, turbulent, supersonic (Maturb ≈ 2.5) plasma with a large magnetic Reynolds number (Rm ≈ 45) in the laboratory.
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