Collisionless laboratory astrophysics with lasers

Abstract

Possibilities of laboratory simulation of various explosive phenomena in space and cosmic plasmas with magnetic fields are analyzed on the bases of similarity criteria, properties of collisionless interactions, and parameters of laser-produced plasmas. It is shown how the physics of such widely different phenomena as barium releases in Earth's magnetosphere, collisionless deceleration of supernova remnants, and related shock-wave generation in interstellar medium or possible near-Earth anti-asteroid explosions could be reproduced in the laboratory. This review of worldwide efforts tries to reveal the problems and perspectives of modern collisionless laboratory astrophysics with high-power lasers.