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Supersonic plasma turbulence in the laboratory

Author

Listed:
  • T. G. White

    (University of Oxford
    University of Nevada)

  • M. T. Oliver

    (University of Oxford
    University of Nevada)

  • P. Mabey

    (University of Oxford
    LULI—CNRS, Ecole Polytechnique, CEA: Université Paris-Saclay; UPMC Univ Paris 06: Sorbonne Universitiés)

  • M. Kühn-Kauffeldt

    (Universität der Bundeswehr München)

  • A. F. A. Bott

    (University of Oxford)

  • L. N. K. Döhl

    (University of York)

  • A. R. Bell

    (University of Oxford)

  • R. Bingham

    (Central Laser Facility, STFC Rutherford Appleton Laboratory
    SUPA, University of Strathclyde)

  • R. Clarke

    (Central Laser Facility, STFC Rutherford Appleton Laboratory)

  • J. Foster

    (AWE, Aldermaston)

  • G. Giacinti

    (Max-Planck-Institut für Kernphysik)

  • P. Graham

    (AWE, Aldermaston)

  • R. Heathcote

    (Central Laser Facility, STFC Rutherford Appleton Laboratory)

  • M. Koenig

    (LULI—CNRS, Ecole Polytechnique, CEA: Université Paris-Saclay; UPMC Univ Paris 06: Sorbonne Universitiés
    Osaka University)

  • Y. Kuramitsu

    (Osaka University)

  • D. Q. Lamb

    (University of Chicago)

  • J. Meinecke

    (University of Oxford)

  • Th. Michel

    (LULI—CNRS, Ecole Polytechnique, CEA: Université Paris-Saclay; UPMC Univ Paris 06: Sorbonne Universitiés)

  • F. Miniati

    (University of Oxford)

  • M. Notley

    (Central Laser Facility, STFC Rutherford Appleton Laboratory)

  • B. Reville

    (Queens University Belfast)

  • D. Ryu

    (School of Natural Sciences, UNIST)

  • S. Sarkar

    (University of Oxford)

  • Y. Sakawa

    (Institute of Laser Engineering)

  • M. P. Selwood

    (Central Laser Facility, STFC Rutherford Appleton Laboratory)

  • J. Squire

    (Theoretical Astrophysics, 350-17, California Institute of Technology
    University of Otago)

  • R. H. H. Scott

    (Central Laser Facility, STFC Rutherford Appleton Laboratory)

  • P. Tzeferacos

    (University of Chicago)

  • N. Woolsey

    (University of York)

  • A. A. Schekochihin

    (University of Oxford)

  • G. Gregori

    (University of Oxford)

Abstract

The properties of supersonic, compressible plasma turbulence determine the behavior of many terrestrial and astrophysical systems. In the interstellar medium and molecular clouds, compressible turbulence plays a vital role in star formation and the evolution of our galaxy. Observations of the density and velocity power spectra in the Orion B and Perseus molecular clouds show large deviations from those predicted for incompressible turbulence. Hydrodynamic simulations attribute this to the high Mach number in the interstellar medium (ISM), although the exact details of this dependence are not well understood. Here we investigate experimentally the statistical behavior of boundary-free supersonic turbulence created by the collision of two laser-driven high-velocity turbulent plasma jets. The Mach number dependence of the slopes of the density and velocity power spectra agree with astrophysical observations, and supports the notion that the turbulence transitions from being Kolmogorov-like at low Mach number to being more Burgers-like at higher Mach numbers.

Suggested Citation

  • T. G. White & M. T. Oliver & P. Mabey & M. Kühn-Kauffeldt & A. F. A. Bott & L. N. K. Döhl & A. R. Bell & R. Bingham & R. Clarke & J. Foster & G. Giacinti & P. Graham & R. Heathcote & M. Koenig & Y. Ku, 2019. "Supersonic plasma turbulence in the laboratory," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 10(1), pages 1-6, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:10:y:2019:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-019-09498-y
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-09498-y
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