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Dynamic and Stagnating Plasma Flow Leading to Magnetic Flux Tube Collimation

Setthivoine You·Paul M. Bellan·Gunsu Yun
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Abstract

Highly collimated, plasma-filled magnetic flux tubes are frequently observed on galactic, stellar and laboratory scales. We propose that a single, universal magnetohydrodynamic pumping process explains why such collimated, plasma-filled magnetic flux tubes are ubiquitous. Experimental evidence from carefully diagnosed laboratory simulations of astrophysical jets confirms this assertion and is reported here. The magnetohydrodynamic process pumps plasma into a magnetic flux tube and the stagnation of the resulting flow causes this flux tube to become collimated.

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Setthivoine You, Paul M. Bellan, Gunsu Yun. 2005-06-29. Dynamic and Stagnating Plasma Flow Leading to Magnetic Flux Tube Collimation. https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevlett.95.045002

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