SILAMPA

This project aims at addressing, for the first time, astronomy-relevant issues related to the coupling of expanding and colliding plasmas with dynamically important magnetic field. In particular the collimation of compressible, magnetohydrodynamic flows by a magnetic field, and the formation of collisionless shocks and associated particle dynamics. For this, our project will exploit novel experimental capabilities by using high-power lasers to create the plasmas (expanding into vacuum) and pulsed coils to generate the strong magnetic fields. These will be coupled in a single platform and complemented by hydrodynamic and kinetic numerical simulations. First, with these we will study the issue of the shaping and evolution of outflow and jet. The main motivation is to test astrophysical models of flow collimation in planetary nebulae ejecta (Pne), young stellar objects (YSO), and supernovae remnants (SNR). Second, we will study the production of energetic particles and radiation in colliding high-energy outflows, where we will simply generate two of such expanding and counter-streaming magnetized plasmas. The collisionless shocks that are produced in these conditions, i.e. reflections of ions through high amplitude electric or magnetic fields developed by charge separation or instabilities in a regime where collisions have a limited effect, could indeed be at the source of the emissions observed from Supernova Remnants shocks (SNRs). Both topics remain the subject of intense debate and of active research. Having the possibility for the first time to study all these effects in the laboratory is a great challenge and can bring significant new results to compare with the existing observations. To achieve this, within SILAMPA, we will combine modeling of astrophysical plasmas together with the simulations and development of related, scaled-down laboratory plasma experiments. An interdisciplinary and synergetic approach is crucial to understand these complex three-dimensional astrophysical (compressible) flows, where non-linear effects, magnetic fields and radiation play a fundamental role. SILAMPA brings together, in a strong and balanced collaboration, 4 different partners, LULI (Palaiseau), CELIA (Bordeaux), LERMA (Paris) and LNCMI (Toulouse), each with strengths in their respective areas of expertise, namely high-power lasers, intense laser-plasma interaction and plasma diagnostics (LULI), sophisticated numerical simulations and analytical modeling (CELIA, LERMA, LULI), astrophysics (LERMA, CELIA) and pulsed-power systems and magnetic fields generation (LNCMI). The different partners have complementary scientific and technical expertise, and have been involved in previous fruitful collaborative work. Additionally, preliminary work on certain aspects of the proposed project, which we have undertaken together, is already demonstrating the feasibility of the proposal. Thus, we are greatly confident in the success of the project. In the long run, we expect this project to have lasting impact well beyond its present scope since it will open up completely new perspectives for the investigations of magnetized laser-produced plasmas and to be the starting point for major advances in tackling a wide variety of physical problems of interest to astrophysics and general laser-plasma physics.