Collisionless plasma shocks: properties, interests and similarities to fluid shocks

Antoine Bret

Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha

Thursday, June 14, 2018

3:00pm

NW17-218

PSFC Seminars

A neutral fluid can sustain shockwaves where dissipation at the shock front is provided by binary collisions. In a plasma, collective effects can equally provide dissipation so that shockwaves can develop over length scales much shorter than the mean free path. Such shocks have been dubbed “collisionless shock”. After reviewing the mechanism of their formation, we will explain why they have been attracting so much attention in recent years. Finally, we will comment on the similarities and differences their offer with respect to fluid shocks.