The proposed PhD project lies within the relatively young field of "high energy density laboratory astrophysics", and focuses on the study of magnetized accretion phenomena in the laboratory. In particular, we are interested in the dynamics and stability of accretion flows in young stars. These magnetically active stars have an extended magnetosphere which truncates the accretion disc and essentially halts the equatorial accretion of matter. Instead, magnetic arches (accretion columns) which connect the star and disc are loaded with disc material which free-falls towards the star, before being decelerated near the stellar surface by an accretion shock, and finally settling onto the star.
Using a novel and unique experimental platform we have shown both by state-of-the-art 3D MHD simulations and in laser experiments, that narrow (>1.5 cm long for 1 mm diameter), super magnetosonic jets of matter can be generated from magnetically collimating an initially widely diverging, laser produced plasma.
The PhD student will actively work on the experiments and participate in the design/interpretation of the experiments using our 3D resistive MHD code GORGON.