Supersonic Radiatively Cooled Rotating Flows and Jets in the Laboratory

Journal Article · Mon Dec 31 23:00:00 EST 2007 · Physical Review Letters

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.100.035001· OSTI ID:1148451

Ampleford, D. J.; Lebedev, S. V.; Ciardi, A.; Bland, S. N.; Bott, S. C.; Hall, G. N.; Naz, N.; Jennings, C. A.; Sherlock, M.; Chittenden, J. P.; Palmer, J. B. A.; Frank, A.; Blackman, E.

The first laboratory astrophysics experiments to produce a radiatively cooled plasma jet with dynamically significant angular momentum are discussed. A new configuration of wire array z pinch, the twisted conical wire array, is used to produce convergent plasma flows each rotating about the central axis. Collision of the flows produces a standing shock and jet that each have supersonic azimuthal velocities. By varying the twist angle of the array, the rotation velocity of the system can be controlled, with jet rotation velocities reaching ~18% of the propagation velocity.

• Research Organization: Sandia National Laboratories (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)
• DOE Contract Number: AC04-94AL85000
• OSTI ID: 1148451
• Report Number(s): SAND--2007-2556J; 523524
• Journal Information: Physical Review Letters, Journal Name: Physical Review Letters Journal Issue: 3 Vol. 100; ISSN 0031-9007; ISSN PRLTAO
• Publisher: American Physical Society (APS)
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS