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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 | July 3, 2013

Navy Transitions Tropical Cyclone Prediction System to Operations

By Daniel Parry, U.S. Naval Research Laboratory Corporate Communications

WASHINGTON  –   Developed by the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) Marine Meteorology Division located in Monterey, Calif., the Navy's Fleet Numerical Meteorology and Oceanography Center (FNMOC) has entered the Coupled Oceanographic and Atmospheric Mesoscale Prediction System-Tropical Cyclone (COAMPS-TC) into full-scale operations, June 6, 2013.

The operational transition of COAMPS-TC comes at a strategic time for the typhoon/hurricane season that began on June first, said Dr. James Doyle, head, Mesoscale Modeling Section, Marine Meteorology Division. COAMPS-TC will improve tropical cyclone forecasts issued by Defense Department and U.S. government forecasters in both the Pacific and Atlantic oceans and will enhance the safety of ships, aircraft and personnel, and civilian populations in coastal regions.

Focusing on the development and transition of a fully coupled air-ocean-wave prediction system, the COAMPS-TC model includes nonhydrostatic atmospheric dynamics, multiple nested moving grids that follow the center of the storm, and improved boundary layer and cloud physical parameterizations.

The forecasts and products produced by COAMPS-TC will be used by the Department of Defense (DoD) Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) National Hurricane Center (NHC) to explicitly predict the intensity, dynamics, and location of tropical cyclones and already COAMPS-TC has produced several operational numerical guidances for tropical cyclones.

In testing and validation over the last two years, COAMPS-TC has proven to provide one of the most skillful TC intensity models available to forecasters. Because of COAMPS-TC's significantly improved capability, both JTWC and NHC have used its forecast products in 2012, well before the official transition date.

For the 2013 Atlantic hurricane season, forecasters at NOAA's Climate Prediction Center have predicted a 70 percent likelihood of 13 to 20 named storms—sustained winds of 39 mph or higher—with seven to 11 becoming hurricanes with sustained winds of 74 mph or higher, and three to six major (Category 3 or higher) hurricanes having sustained winds of 111 mph or higher.