Simulation of astrophysical plasma dynamics in the laser experiments

The properties of laser-produced plasma are similar in many features to the ones of various space plasma releases of explosive nature. It allows to investigate the processes of an interaction of those plasmas with background media by the means of laboratory simulation. In the given paper such simulation experiments with quasispherical plasma clouds at KI-1 laser facility are presented. The experiments are related to dynamics of collisionless expansion of exploding space plasmas in the surrounding magnetized media at various Alfven-Much numbers. A non-uniform media as well has been simulated. The results on generation of shock and wistler waves in background, on formation of diamagnetic cavity and flute instability of plasma clouds are described. Data on a dynamics of laser-produced plasma in a dipole magnetic field are presented also. Results are analyzed in connection with dynamics of Supernova remnants in interstellar medium, Barium releases in Earth magnetosphere and possible disturbances of the latter caused by high-energy explosions in near space. copyright 1996 American Institute of Physics