Session BP8: Poster Session I: Laser and Beam Driven Acceleration/Radiation; ICF I and Laser Plasma Interactions; Shape Control, Diagnostics, Reactor Design; Astrophysical Plasmas: Experiment and Theory

9:30 AM–9:30 AM, Monday, November 12, 2007
Rosen Centre Hotel Room: Grand Ballroom, 9:30am - 12:30pm


Abstract ID: BAPS.2007.DPP.BP8.82

Abstract: BP8.00082 : The Princeton MagnetoRotational Instability (MRI) Experiment - Apparatus and Diagnostics

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Authors:

  Ethan Schartman
    (PPPL, CMSO)

  Mark Nornberg
    (PPPL, CMSO)

  Hantao Ji
    (PPPL, CMSO)

  Michael J. Burin
    (California State University, San Marcos)

  Jeremy Goodman
    (Princeton University)

The Princeton MRI experiment investigates instabilities believed to be responsible for angular momentum transport in accretion disks. The apparatus consists of fluid confined between a pair of concentric spinning cylinders. The shear flow developed shares with accretion disks the properties of linear hydrodynamic stability and outwardly-decreasing angular velocity. Onset of instability in this apparatus is relevant to studies of turbulent transport in astrophysical disks. Using water or a liquid Gallium alloy we investigate Subcritical Hydrodynamic Instability (SHI) or the MRI. The cylinder end caps are divided into two pairs of differentially-rotatable rings to reduce the impact of the vertical boundaries on the bulk flow. When using water the Reynolds stress is directly measured using 2-component Laser Doppler Velocimetry. During Gallium operation a 5kG axial magnetic field is applied. Radial motions of the fluid generate a fluctuating radial component of the magnetic field which is detected by an array of magnetic B-dot coils external to the flow. For the largest flow shear in our apparatus the radial fields will be generated by the MRI. To test the operation of the B-dot coils the magnetic field is applied to a Rayleigh-unstable flow. Supported by DOE, NASA and NSF.

To cite this abstract, use the following reference: http://meetings.aps.org/link/BAPS.2007.DPP.BP8.82