Astrophysics driven by high-power lasers and radiative shocks

Abstract
Astronomy and astrophysics can today produce a lot of discoveries and syntheses, driven by the convergence of sophisticated technology (advanced detectors and instrumentation, and supercomputers) with new observation platforms (VLT, Keck) and a revitalised satellite program. These advances will decisively affect many of the fundamental studies of origins, dynamics, and emission for all scales of astrophysical phenomena. Traditionally astrophysical research has been divided into observations and theoretical modelling or a combination of both. But scientists have discovered that existing models did not explain their observations of the great supernova of 1987. Since is born a closed collaboration between astrophysicists and plasma scientists leading to perform laboratory experiments motivated by the astrophysics. Start many collaborations is essential in order to progress in this new field and together astro/plasma physicists and laser bench scientists are pushing the frontiers of recreating the Universe's most exotic phenomena. The goal is to create in the laboratory a sample plasma similar to what would be found in the astronomical body, then to study its properties (radiation or thermodynamical state).