Shocks and transition to turbulence in magnetized high density plasmas

Shock waves are important feature of many magnetised plasmas in astrophysics, in space plasmas and in laboratory plasmas relevant to Inertial Confinement Fusion research. The PhD project will be focused on the studies of shock waves formed in the interaction of magnetised supersonic plasma flows produced at the 1.4MA MAGPIE pulsed power facility with various obstacles. Experiments will investigate the development of instabilities in magnetised shocks, in conditions scalable to astrophysical shocks. The project will also involve studies of the development of turbulence in high density plasmas formed in collisions of counter-streaming plasma flows and in rotating plasmas. Work will involve modification of the already existing experimental set-ups, designing appropriate targets allowing quantitative characterisation of the shocks, and designing and testing of new experimental configurations. The project will also involve the development and implementation of advanced plasma diagnostics, such as temporally and spatially resolved Thomson scattering, interferometry, optical and x-ray imaging spectroscopy and X-ray radiography.