Astrophysical collisionless shocks are amazing phenomena in space and astrophysical plasmas, where supersonic flows generate electromagnetic fields through instabilities and particles can be accelerated to high energy cosmic rays. Until now, understanding these micro-processes is still a challenge despite rich astrophysical observation data have been obtained. Laboratory astrophysics, a new route to study the astrophysics, allows us to investigate them at similar extreme physical conditions in laboratory. Here we will review the recent progress of the collisionless shock experiments performed at SG-II laser facility in China. The evolution of the electrostatic shocks and Weibel-type/filamentation instabilities are observed. Inspired by the configurations of the counter-streaming plasma flows, we also carry out a novel plasma collider to generate energetic neutrons relevant to the astrophysical nuclear reactions.

The driving mechanism of solar flares and coronal mass ejections is a topic of ongoing debate, apart from the consensus that magnetic reconnection plays a key role during the impulsive process. While present solar research mostly depends on observations and theoretical models, laboratory experiments based on high-energy density facilities provide the third method for quantitatively comparing astrophysical observations and models with data achieved in experimental settings. In this article, we show laboratory modeling of solar flares and coronal mass ejections by constructing the magnetic reconnection system with two mutually approaching laser-produced plasmas circumfused of self-generated megagauss magnetic fields. Due to the Euler similarity between the laboratory and solar plasma systems, the present experiments demonstrate the morphological reproduction of flares and coronal mass ejections in solar observations in a scaled sense, and confirm the theory and model predictions about the current-sheet-born anomalous plasmoid as the initial stage of coronal mass ejections, and the behavior of moving-away plasmoid stretching the primary reconnected field lines into a secondary current sheet conjoined with two bright ridges identified as solar flares.

A scheme capable of enhancing the energy of monoenergetic protons in high intensity laser-plasma interactions is proposed and demonstrated by two dimensional particle-in-cell simulations. The focusing of laser light pulse and the guiding of surface current via the high Z material cone-shaped substrate increase the temperature of hot electrons, which are responsible for the electrostatic field accelerating protons. Moreover, the sub-micron proton layer coated on the cone-shaped substrate makes the total proton beam experience the same accelerating field, thus the monochromaticity is maintained. Compared to the normal film double layer target, the energy of monoenergetic proton beams can be improved about three times.

Radiation transfer in low-density foam is influenced by the external radiation field which impacts on the foam when the size of plasma created in laboratory is not large to be opatical thick. The radiation transfers of different photon groups are sensitive probes of the conditions of the medium through which they propagate. The temporal behavior of photon groups to which the plasma is optical thin is quite different from that of photon groups to which the plasma is optical thick. The breakout times of different photon groups through the foam are distinguishable different in experiment when we measures them at the end of foam. The multi-group supersonic radiation transfer behavior in low-density foam is studied both by multi-group transfer numerical simulation and experiments. Two characteristic photon groups are chosen to do experimental research on the multi-group transfer behavior in low-density CH foam. A time-resolved chromatic streaked X-ray spectrometer measure the breakout of the two photon group from the far end of the foam cylinder. The distinguishable transfer time delay between two groups is observed.