Laboratory Astrophysics using High Energy/Power Lasers

Abstract

With the advent of high energy/power lasers, extreme conditions, such as those found in astrophysical environments, can be reproduced in laboratory. The scaling between laboratory and astrophysical environments, especially for viscosity and resistivity that govern dissipation processes, is not perfect. Yet, the similarity is close enough to make laboratory experiments relevant for astrophysics. The results have been encouraging, in the sense of suggesting the possibility of exploring fundamental physical processes at play in astrophysical phenomena. In this talk, I will review a few successfully performed and ongoing experiments, such as those for turbulence and magnetic field generation in fluid regime and collisionless shock wave in plasma regime.