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Scaled laboratory experiments explain the kink behaviour of the Crab Nebula jet

Author

Listed:
  • C. K. Li

    (Plasma Science and Fusion Center, Massachusetts Institute of Technology)

  • P. Tzeferacos

    (University of Chicago)

  • D. Lamb

    (University of Chicago)

  • G. Gregori

    (University of Oxford)

  • P. A. Norreys

    (University of Oxford)

  • M. J. Rosenberg

    (Plasma Science and Fusion Center, Massachusetts Institute of Technology)

  • R. K. Follett

    (Laboratory for Laser Energetics, University of Rochester
    University of Rochester)

  • D. H. Froula

    (Laboratory for Laser Energetics, University of Rochester
    University of Rochester)

  • M. Koenig

    (LULI-CNRS, Ecole Polytechnique, CEA: Université Paris-Saclay
    UPMC Univ Paris 06: Sorbonne Universités
    Institute of Laser Engineering, Osaka University)

  • F. H. Seguin

    (Plasma Science and Fusion Center, Massachusetts Institute of Technology)

  • J. A. Frenje

    (Plasma Science and Fusion Center, Massachusetts Institute of Technology)

  • H. G. Rinderknecht

    (Plasma Science and Fusion Center, Massachusetts Institute of Technology)

  • H. Sio

    (Plasma Science and Fusion Center, Massachusetts Institute of Technology)

  • A. B. Zylstra

    (Plasma Science and Fusion Center, Massachusetts Institute of Technology)

  • R. D. Petrasso

    (Plasma Science and Fusion Center, Massachusetts Institute of Technology)

  • P. A. Amendt

    (Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory)

  • H. S. Park

    (Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory)

  • B. A. Remington

    (Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory)

  • D. D. Ryutov

    (Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory)

  • S. C. Wilks

    (Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory)

  • R. Betti

    (Laboratory for Laser Energetics, University of Rochester
    University of Rochester)

  • A. Frank

    (Laboratory for Laser Energetics, University of Rochester
    University of Rochester)

  • S. X. Hu

    (Laboratory for Laser Energetics, University of Rochester)

  • T. C. Sangster

    (Laboratory for Laser Energetics, University of Rochester)

  • P. Hartigan

    (Rice University 6100 S. Main)

  • R. P. Drake

    (Ocean and Space Science, University of Michigan)

  • C. C. Kuranz

    (Ocean and Space Science, University of Michigan)

  • S. V. Lebedev

    (The Blackett Laboratory, Imperial College London)

  • N. C. Woolsey

    (University of York)

Abstract

The remarkable discovery by the Chandra X-ray observatory that the Crab nebula’s jet periodically changes direction provides a challenge to our understanding of astrophysical jet dynamics. It has been suggested that this phenomenon may be the consequence of magnetic fields and magnetohydrodynamic instabilities, but experimental demonstration in a controlled laboratory environment has remained elusive. Here we report experiments that use high-power lasers to create a plasma jet that can be directly compared with the Crab jet through well-defined physical scaling laws. The jet generates its own embedded toroidal magnetic fields; as it moves, plasma instabilities result in multiple deflections of the propagation direction, mimicking the kink behaviour of the Crab jet. The experiment is modelled with three-dimensional numerical simulations that show exactly how the instability develops and results in changes of direction of the jet.

Suggested Citation

  • C. K. Li & P. Tzeferacos & D. Lamb & G. Gregori & P. A. Norreys & M. J. Rosenberg & R. K. Follett & D. H. Froula & M. Koenig & F. H. Seguin & J. A. Frenje & H. G. Rinderknecht & H. Sio & A. B. Zylstra, 2016. "Scaled laboratory experiments explain the kink behaviour of the Crab Nebula jet," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 7(1), pages 1-8, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:7:y:2016:i:1:d:10.1038_ncomms13081
    DOI: 10.1038/ncomms13081
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