Collisionless shock and supernova remnant simulations on VULCAN

The VULCAN [C. N. Danson , Opt. Commun. 103, 392 (1993)] laser at the UK Ce ntral Laser Facility is being used for laboratory-based simulations of coll isionless shocks. By ensuring that key dimensionless parameters in the expe riments have values similar to those of supernova remnants (SNRs), the hydr odynamics and magnetic field of the experiment are scaled to those of a SNR . This makes it possible to investigate experimentally the physics of colli sionless magnetized shocks in such objects. The experiments are providing d ata against which to test current theory. Collisionless shock formation and the interaction of two counterpropagating colliding plasmas permeated by a strong magnetic field are discussed. (C) 2001 American Institute of Physic s.