Simulations of collimated laser-plasma jets in the ambient low beta condition and astrophysical relevance

The collimation mechanism of solar coronal jets is investigated using FLASH simulations in preparation for upcoming laser-driven magnetized plasma jet experiments at the OMEGA facility. Plasma outflows in the direction of the applied 50T magnetic fields are modeled analogous to outflows from the solar corona holes expunged along open magnetic field lines. Plasma parameters such as Euler number, Alfvén velocity and beta are kept as the scale invariant between laboratory experiments and solar corona. Simulations indicate that collimated plasma jets are able to be produced by applying external magnetic fields in our designed experimental conditions, where the collimation effect can be enhanced by increasing external magnetic field strengths. The mechanism is magnetic fields inside outflows are pushed out by the advective transport to form a high magnetic pressure and low beta region, consequently outflows are compressed by the magnetic pressure difference causing jet collimation.