Interrelated laboratory and space plasma experiments

Abstract

Many advances in understanding space plasma phenomena have been linked to insight derived from theoretical modeling and/or laboratory experiments. Advances for which laboratory experiments played an important role are reviewed here. How the interpretation of the space plasma data was influenced by one or more laboratory experiments is described. The space physics motivation of laboratory investigations and the scaling of , laboratory plasma parameters to space plasma conditions are discussed. Examples demonstrating how laboratory experiments develop physical insight, validate or invalidate theoretical models, discover unexpected behavior, establish observational signatures, and pioneer diagnostic methods for the space community are presented. The various device configurations found in space-related laboratory investigations are outlined. A primary objective of this review is to articulate the overlapping scientific issues that are addressable in space and laboratory experiments. A secondary objective is to convey the wide range of laboratory and space plasma experiments involved in this interdisciplinary, alliance. Over time the degree to which the interrelated experiments can be compared has increased, thanks to improved diagnostic techniques in space and closer attention to matching dimensionless space parameters in the laboratory. Copyright 2008 by the American Geophysical Union.