MRI

The Magnetorotational Instability (MRI) Experiment

The Magnetorotational Instability (MRI) Experiment is a small laboratory experiment located at the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL), in collaboration with Department of Astrophysical Sciences, Princeton University.

The goal of MRI Experiment is to realize MRI in the lab and to investigate physics of MRI. Click to learn more about the physics of MRI and to find out our publications and results.

The Magnetorotational Instability (MRI) Experiment at PPPL.

Summary

    The MRI Experiment is currently jointly supported by DoE and NSF.

Videos

MRI-start-CD.mov
The experimental apparatus has been constructed, and here is a movie: "First spin" movie (11/10/04). 
MRI-water-CD.mov
Subsequently, high-speed water experiments have been carried out, and here is a movie: water experiment using Laser Doppler Velocimetry (10/20/05).
948movie.mov
Here is a movie of the observed instability at the mid plane measured by Ultrasonic Doppler Velocimetry.
IMG_0510.mp4
Here is a video of a scientist scraping liquid metal (gallium) from a scraper in the MRI lab at PPPL.

Images

Erik Gilson working on the MRI experiment. (Elle Starkman/ PPPL)