| Type |
Conference Paper |
| Names |
Benjamin Brown, M. D. Nornberg, C. B. Forest, E. G. Zweibel, J. B. Wallace, M. Clark, E. J. Spence, K. Rahbarnia, E. J. Kaplan, N. Z. Taylor |
| Proceedings Title |
Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society |
| Conference Name |
American Astronomical Society, AAS Meeting #220, #211.02 |
| Volume |
220 |
| Date |
May 1, 2012 |
| Short Title |
The Madison Plasma Dynamo Experiment |
| URL |
http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2012AAS...22021102B |
| Library Catalog |
NASA ADS |
| Abstract |
Plasma experiments in laboratory settings offer the opportunity to
address fundamental aspects of the solar dynamo, magnetism in solar and
stellar atmospheres, and instabilities that may play important roles in
astrophysical systems. The newly constructed Madison Plasma Dynamo
Experiment (MPDX) Is a platform for investigating the self-generation of
magnetic fields and related processes in large, weakly magnetized, fast
flowing, and hot (conducting) plasmas. Planned experiments will probe
questions that are of crucial importance to heliophysics in the solar
interior, atmosphere and wind. These include studying large and small
scale dynamos, varying between laminar and turbulent regimes, studying
stratified convection and magnetic buoyancy instabilities, and studying
dissipation processes in collisionless plasmas. In addition, MPDX will
allow us to study the basic physical processes underlying magnetic
reconnection and flares in the solar atmosphere, the nature of CMEs, and
the interactions between planetary magnetospheres and the solar wind.
Results from these experiments will create the benchmarks necessary for
validating heliospheric codes used to mode our Sun and forecast solar
activity. Laboratory plasma experiments are likely to contribute new
understanding complementary to the traditional observational and
modeling approach normally used by space physicists. |