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

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, R. D. Petrasso, P. A. Amendt, H. S. Park, B. A. Remington, D. D. Ryutov, S. C. Wilks, R. Betti, A. Frank, S. X. Hu, T. C. Sangster, P. Hartigan, R. P. Drake, C. C. Kuranz, S. V. Lebedev and N. C. Woolsey
Additional contact information
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
D. H. Froula: Laboratory for Laser Energetics, University of Rochester
M. Koenig: LULI-CNRS, Ecole Polytechnique, CEA: Université Paris-Saclay
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
A. Frank: Laboratory for Laser Energetics, 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

Nature Communications, 2016, vol. 7, issue 1, 1-8

Abstract: 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.

Date: 2016
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DOI: 10.1038/ncomms13081

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