Experimental Measurement of the Nonlinear Interaction between Counterpropagating Alfv\'{e}n Waves in the LaPD

Turbulence plays an important role in the transport of mass and energy in many space and astrophysical plasmas ranging from galaxy clusters to Earth's magnetosphere. One active topic of research is the application of idealized Alfv\'{e}nic turbulence models to plasma conditions relevant to space and astrophysical plasmas. Alfv\'{e}nic turbulence models based on incompressible magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) contain a nonlinear interaction that drives the cascade of energy to smaller scales. We describe experiments at the Large Plasma Device (LaPD) that focus on the interaction of an Alfv\'{e}n wave traveling parallel to the mean magnetic field with a counterpropagating Alfv\'{e}n wave. Theory predicts the nonlinear interaction of the two primary waves will produce a secondary daughter Alfv\'{e}n wave. In this study, we present the first experimental identification of the daughter wave generated by nonlinear interactions between the primary Alfv\'{e}n waves.