Model magnetospheric accretion and bipolar jets with intense lasers

Abstract

Astronomical observations show that classical T Tauri stars (TTSs) always possess active accretion activity and jet launching. However, limited by high dust opacity and observation resolution, direct investigations of the details are arduous. The physics of the accretion activity and the jet formation is still an open question. In this paper, we carry out the experiment with intense lasers irradiating a newly designed eight-coil capacitor target. We observe a process in laboratory which is similar to the truncation process of the magnetospheric accretion around TTSs. Both impediment processes result from a relatively strong magnetic field compared to the ram and thermal pressures of the material. We also observe a jet formation process in laboratory which is similar to the jet formation model proposed by Cantó et al (1988). Both formation processes result from converging supersonic flows. At last, we discuss the feasibility of a jet formation model based on magnetospheric accretion.