Status of the Wisconsin Plasma Astrophysics Laboratory

POSTER

Abstract

The Wisconsin Plasma Astrophysics Laboratory (WiPAL) is a facility that now encompasses a collection of novel plasma astrophysics experimental configurations. In the MPDX configuration large, un-magnetized, fast flowing, hot plasma is being used to investigate a variety of flow driven MHD instabilities. The experiment is 3 meters in diameter and utilizes a permanent magnet multicusp plasma confinement. Five 20KW, 2.45 GHz, CW magnetrons produce electron cyclotron heating for plasma generation. Ten lanthanum hexaboride (LaB6) stirring rods and molybdenum anodes are inserted into the vessel to produce JxB flows. The chamber has a variety of multiuse ports, and is able to split open to allow experimental apparatus to be inserted. This poster will describe future experimental configurations including reconnection (TREX), jet and plasma wind experiments.

Authors

  • John Wallace

    Univ of Wisconsin, Madison, University of Wisconsin - Madison, UW Madison

  • Matthew Brookhart

    University of Wisconsin - Madison

  • M.M. Clark

    Univ of Wisconsin, Madison, University of Wisconsin - Madison

  • Christopher Cooper

    University of Wisconsin - Madison, University of Wisconsin, Madison

  • K. Flanagan

    University of Wisconsin - Madison, University of Wisconsin-Madison

  • Ivan Khalzov

    University of Wisconsin - Madison, University of Wisconsin-Madison

  • Jason Milhone

    University of Wisconsin - Madison, University of Wisconsin, Madison

  • Ethan Peterson

    University of Wisconsin - Madison

  • Joseph Olson

    University of Wisconsin-Madison, Univ of Wisconsin, Madison, University of Wisconsin - Madison, UW Madison

  • Aaron Stemo

    University of Wisconsin - Madison

  • Dave Weisberg

    University of Wisconsin - Madison

  • Jan Egedal

    UW-Madison, Univ of Wisconsin, Madison, University of Wisconsin - Madison, UW Madison

  • Cary Forest

    University of Wisconsin-Madison, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Univ of Wisconsin, Madison, University of Wisconsin - Madison, UW Madison