Space plasma physics from laboratory studies: what can be learned?

Summary form only given, as follows. Over the years, a research community has evolved that explores basic plasma phenomena in the laboratory with emphasis towards understanding space plasma physics. Topics explored cover a range of phenomena encompassing magnetic reconnection, Langmuir turbulence, Alfven wave propagation, plasma double layers, streaming instabilities, dusty plasmas, and shock formation, to name just a few. These experiments generally do not directly simulate astrophysical phenomena because of the disparate scales. Furthermore, the scaling of relevant dimensionless parameters is not always satisfactory, often reflecting the bias of the experimenter in emphasizing what s/he thinks is most relevant to the process under investigation. Rather, emphasis is typically placed on the micro-scale plasma processes with the goal of understanding similar phenomena that contribute to the observed macro-scale behavior (in the magnetosphere, solar corona, etc.). Moreover, understanding these processes over a range of plasma parameters broadens our understanding of basic plasma physics. At Auburn University, this approach is used to explore ion acoustic turbulence, streaming instabilities and lower hybrid cavitation, process all thought to be important in the macro-scale dynamics of the Earth's aurora. A survey of ongoing laboratory space plasma experiments will be attempted, and the problems and questions still facing the community will be addressed.