This research article details a laboratory experiment designed to model the eruptive behavior of arched magnetized plasmas, such as those found in the Sun's atmosphere. The researchers created an arched plasma in a vacuum chamber and subjected it to a magnetic field, mimicking the conditions of the solar photosphere and lower chromosphere. They observed the formation of a transient plasma jet, similar to solar jets and spicules, driven by magnetic shear and large pressure gradients. The jet's supersonic flow and complex electric current structure were studied in detail, with particular focus on the role of ion-neutral collisions in shaping the jet's dynamics. The results provide insights into the mechanisms behind solar eruptions and the behavior of magnetized plasmas in astrophysical environments.

Basic Plasma Science Facility: https://plasma.physics.ucla.edu

Article being discussed: Kamil D. Sklodowski, Shreekrishna Tripathi, and Troy Carter, "Dynamic Formation of a Transient Jet from Arched Magnetized Laboratory Plasma," the Astrophysical Journal, Volume 953, Number 1, 2023; https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/acdf47

The Basic Plasma Science Facility is a Collaborative Research Facility that is primarily funded by the US Department of Energy Fusion Energy Sciences program, with additional funding from the National Science Foundation.