Scientists used the LAPD installation (Large Plasma Device) at the Californian
As physicists note, magnetospheres are formed,when the plasma flow collides with a magnetic obstacle. For example, solar wind plasma can interact with the planet's field. Reaching the point of equilibrium (magnetopause), the plasma goes around the obstacle and forms an elongated tail of the magnetosphere.
In the experiment, the LAPD magnetic field representeditself the Solar system, laser-controlled plasma - solar wind. Physicists used a dipole magnet to create a model of the Earth's own magnetic field. Special sensors scanned the system in three dimensions, combining data from tens of thousands of laser pulses.
Photographs of plasma radiation. Source: Schaeffer, Cruz et al.,Physics of Plasmas
As the researchers note, whenmagnetic field of the dipole, they managed to detect the magnetopause, which is a key evidence of the formation of the magnetosphere. When the dipole was turned off, the magnetopause disappeared. According to physicists, the advantage of their device is the ability to adjust and control all the parameters of the system, which allows you to create magnetospheres of different objects in different conditions.
Combining experiments and simulations, we wereable to identify signatures of plasma kinetic-scale phenomena typical of planetary and mini-magnetospheres. Here is a clip of the plasma density that shows lots of small-scale structure in one of our simulations. pic.twitter.com/tAyj93o37m
— Fábio Cruz (@cruzfabios) January 10, 2022
Researchers say previouslaboratory experiments were carried out using plasma wind tunnels or high-energy lasers to create mini-magnetospheres. However, such studies made it possible to evaluate the magnetic field only in one dimension and did not provide a complete, three-dimensional picture. The new approach, according to the authors, creates models of planetary magnetospheres convenient for studying.
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The magnetopause is the boundary at which the kinetic pressure of the plasma flow is balanced by the pressure of the planet's magnetic field.
A dipole magnet is a magnetic element that creates a uniform magnetic field.
A device for creating a highly magnetized background plasma.