Laboratory Simulations of the Radial Distribution of the Toroidal Magnetic Field in an Axial Jet from a Young Stellar Object

Abstract

Results from experiments on the radial distribution of the magnetic fields in axial plasma flows formed during the compression of a plasma–current sheath carried out at the KPF-4-PHOENIX plasmafocus installation are presented. The plasma flows were generated in a discharge with stationary filling of the chamber with a working gas of argon or hydrogen, and also with a pulsed injection of argon. Analysis of the radial profiles of the magnetic field distribution and their time variations are used to localize regions of trappedmagnetic field, as well as regions where a return current flows at the periphery of the plasma flow. It is shown that the transverse (radial) size of the plasma flow depends on the density of the ambient medium (background gas) through which it propagates. These experiments were carried out in the framework of a project on laboratory simulations of non-relativistic jets from young stars.