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Home : Our Work : Areas of Research : Plasma Physics

    Plasma Physics
Phone: (202) 767-5635

 

Overview

The Plasma Physics Division conducts broad theoretical and experimental programs of basic and applied research in plasma physics, laboratory discharge, and space plasmas, intense electron and ion beams and photon sources, atomic physics, pulsed power sources, laser physics, advanced spectral diagnostics, and nonlinear systems. 

The effort of the Division is concentrated on a few closely coordinated theoretical and experimental programs. Considerable emphasis is placed on large-scale numerical simulations related to plasma dynamics; ionospheric, magnetospheric, and atmospheric dynamics; nuclear weapons effects; inertial confinement fusion; atomic physics; plasma processing; nonlinear dynamics and chaos; free electron lasers and other advanced radiation sources; advanced accelerator concepts; and atmospheric laser propagation.

Core Capabilities 

  • Radiation Hydrodynamics - The principal emphasis is in the development and application of theoretical models and state-of-the-art numerical simulations combining magnetohydrodynamics, high energy density physics, atomic and radiation physics, and spectroscopy.
  • Laser Plasma - Primary areas of research include physics underpinnings of laser fusion, high-energy-gain laser-inertial- fusion target designs, experiments and simulations of laser-matter interactions at high intensity, advancing the science and technologies of high-energy krypton fluoride and argon fluoride lasers, advancing the technologies of durable high-repetition-rate pulse power and electron-beam diodes for laser pumping and other applications, laser fusion as a power source.
  • Space and Laboratory Plasmas - Space research includes theoretical, numerical, and laboratory and space experimental investigations of the dynamic behavior of the near-Earth space plasmas and radiation belts, and the modification of space plasmas for strategic effects on HF communications, satellite navigation, over-the-horizon radar, and UHF satellite communications.  Applications-oriented plasma research is performed in the production, characterization, and use of low-temperature plasmas and related technology for applications to advance capabilities across the Navy and DOD.  Pulsed-power investigations include electromagnetic launch science and technology and research on directed energy systems for the U.S. Navy.
  • Pulsed Power Physics - Experimental and theoretical research is performed to advance pulsed power driven accelerator technology in areas relevant to defense applications. Research concerns the production, transport, characterization, and modeling of pulsed plasmas and intense high-power, charged particle beams using terawatt-class hundred-kilojoule pulsed power systems that employ capacitive or inductive energy storage and advanced switching. 
  • Directed Energy Physics - Research encompasses the integration of theoretical/computational and experimental research relevant to DOD, ONR, DARPA, and DoE in the areas of ultra-high field laser physics, atmospheric propagation of intense lasers, advanced radiation and accelerator physics, laser-generated plasma-microwave interactions, and dynamics of nonlinear systems. 

Facilities Fact Sheets

  • Electra Experimental Lab Facility - Electron beam pumped laser.  [ Download PDF]
  • NIKE KrF Laser Target Facility.  [Download PDF]
  • Space Plasma Simulation Chamber.  [Download PDF]

Plasma Physics News

NEWS | Nov. 13, 2020

Two Quantum Research Conferences to Focus on Navy, Federal Collaboration

By Paul Cage, U.S. Naval Research Laboratory Corporate Communications

WASHINGTON  –   As the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory steps up in its role as the Navy’s Quantum Information Science Research Center, NRL is participating in two quantum collaboration meetings focusing on intragovernmental collaboration.

The first meeting is a workshop of the Washington Metro Quantum Network Research Consortium to be held virtually on Nov. 16-17. The workshop will focus on setting up collegial research efforts among consortium members with the goal of performing distributed entanglement of qubits between participating institutions in the Washington area using fiber optic communications cables.

The consortium includes NRL, the National Institute of Standards and Technology, Army Research Laboratory, Laboratory for Telecommunications Sciences, and the U.S. Naval Observatory.

The second meeting is the inauguration of the Naval Quantum S&T Working Group on Nov. 23, which will be held quarterly. This event will bring together scientists and engineers from across NRL, the Office of Naval Research, and the Navy’s warfare centers. NRL research physicist Adam Black, Ph.D., will discuss his ongoing research on quantum sensing.

“NRL continues to works directly with other laboratories, academia, government and industry to conduct a variety of QIST research,” said Gerald M. Borsuk, Ph.D., NRL’s associate director of research for the systems directorate. “We hope these meetings build bridges within government and with academia and industry that lead to further interactions to bring quantum technologies to reality.”

NRL was designated the Navy’s QISRC as part of the fiscal year 2020 National Defense Authorization Act, which allows NRL to engage with public and private sector organizations to enhance and accelerate research, development and deployment of QIS and QIS enabled technologies and systems.