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Pulsed-Power Magnetized Jets for the Study of Star Formation

We present the first results of a laboratory-astrophysics experiment with the goal of translating research performed at a major (several kJ) laser facility 1 into the pulsed-power laboratory at the Michigan Accelerator for Inductive Z-Pinch Experiments (MAIZE). We aim to explore the interactions of...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Melean, Raul F., Young, Rachel P., Klein, Salle R., Smith, Trevor J., Dowhan, George, Campbell, Paul C., Jordan, Nicholas M., McBride, Ryan D., Kuranz, Carolyn C.
Format: Conference Proceeding
Language:English
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Summary:We present the first results of a laboratory-astrophysics experiment with the goal of translating research performed at a major (several kJ) laser facility 1 into the pulsed-power laboratory at the Michigan Accelerator for Inductive Z-Pinch Experiments (MAIZE). We aim to explore the interactions of magnetized plasma flows in astrophysical accretion shock events found in the star formation process of highly magnetic T Tauri stars. In these first preliminary results, we a focus on the structure and development of shock instabilities. To accomplish this, we generated magnetized plasma flows via pulsed-power in the Linear Transformer Drive (LTD) at the University of Michigan, by ablating aluminum wire arrays with currents in the order of 1 Mega-Amp. We use a conical array that drives a plasma jet 2 and a 5 Tesla, Helmholtz coil providing a uniform axial magnetic field. Our first images come from self-emission and shadowgraphy captured by a fast-frame camera, showing the structure and evolution of the plasma jet.
ISSN:2576-7208
DOI:10.1109/ICOPS37625.2020.9717534