Employees of MEPhI and a series of other leading scientific centers have conducted research in laboratory astrophysics in LULI Ecole Polytechnique (France).

With the help of combined impact on special targets of laser pulses of high-energy and strong outer magnetic field in laboratory conditions accretive processes in double star processes have been modelled.

One of the experiment participants is the supervisor of international laboratory “Radiation methods of diagnostics and radiation technologies with the usage of very energetic laser radiation” of the Institute of laser and plasma technologies, Associate Professor of Laser Physics Department Sergey Pikuz told how evolution of astrophysical objects can be researched and whether magnetic field influences the development of plasma jet.

• Our partnership with employees of LULI laboratory is conducted mainly in laboratory astrophysics, i.e.in the modelling of hydro-dynamic phenomena in astrophysical objects with the help of laser plasma. For example, emissions from a polar region of a young star, shock waves, processes in the magnetosphere of stars, extended plasma jets, which in the astronomy are observed as a chain of bright crosses, consecutively following each other. The majority of this phenomena can be scaled to laboratory sizes and time scale and study in controlled conditions.
• Why is this experiment unique?
• Apart from combinations of two lasers an impulse magnet was used, which created magnetic field up to 20 Tl and influenced nanosecond plasma laser. We had to answer the question, how plasma jet, formed by a nanosecond laser, is evaluating under the spread of the vacuum in the presence of outer magnetic field, and how this field influences the process of this field’ interaction with solid-state barrier. Another barrier was in the target assembly, which was a layered target for a nanosecond laser several hundredths of a micron thick and a massive 2-3 mm massive and flat plate from quartz or gallium-gadolinium-garnet. In the process of interaction with barrier blow-back was created.
• How is it related to astrophysics?
• We have a system of couple stars. One is a substance donor, another one is an acceptor. There is a blow channel of matter from one star to another.
• Who participated in the experiment?
• This was a part of an international collaboration. The magnet was developed by German colleagues, the targets - by French and Japanese, theoretical calculations were made by Americans, French and Japanese.
• What was the role of MEPhI participants?
• Traditionally, our role in such experiments is in radiation diagnostics, methods and approaches, using ionizing radiation. It can be X-Ray flows or flows of ion beams, radiated by researched objects ore a secondary source.
• What are the experiment results for now?
• Magnetic field has a very little impact on the process development. Important is checking numerical codes of 3D modelling of           magnetohydrodynamic phenomena, developed by French commission on atomic energy of Chicago.