Supersonic-jet experiments using a high-energy laser

In this Letter, laboratory astrophysical jet experiments performed with the LULI2000 laser facility are presented. High speed plasma jets (150km•s-1) are generated using foam-filled cone targets. Accurate experimental characterization of the plasma jet is performed by measuring its time evolution and exploring various target parameters. Key jet parameters such as propagation and radial velocities, temperature, and density are obtained. For the first time, the required dimensionless quantities are experimentally determined on a single-shot basis. Although the jets evolve in vacuum, most of the scaling parameters are relevant to astrophysical conditions.