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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 31, 2021

NRL to hold media availabilities at Sea-Air-Space 2021

By U.S. Naval Research Laboratory, Corporate Communications

WASHINGTON  –   U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s scientists and engineers will be available Aug. 2-4 to discuss their cutting-edge research and advances in technology during the Navy League's Global Maritime Exposition Sea-Air-Space in exhibit booth #302 and featured speakers will present on Tuesday in the Chesapeake 5 room at the Gaylord National Convention Center in Oxon Hill, Maryland. In addition to the in person event this year, from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. NRL will also be participating in the virtual exhibit hall.

Featured NRL Technologies:

Carbon Capture converts seawater to fuel. NRL used a catalytic converter to extract carbon dioxide and hydrogen from seawater and then converted the gasses into liquid hydrocarbons at a 92 percent efficiency rate.

Global Predictive Seabed Model (GPSM) provides site-specific details on seafloor properties, such as temperature, overall carbon concentration and pressure. Seafloor properties, which effect acoustics in the ocean, are mostly unknown on a large-scale basis. GMPS uses advanced, machine-learning algorithms to estimate the missing value based on information about another area that may be geographically distant, but similar geologically.

Graphene chip detects sulfur compounds in fuels. This technology is a new class of sulfur detector-on-a-chip based on two-dimensional material called graphene, combined with metal oxide nanoparticles, as the transducing and sensory elements. These detectors yield a fast and inexpensive (at scale) detection of sulfur compounds.

Hexapod Robot is a multi-legged robotic platform with autonomous on-board tracking capabilities and is used for investigating collaboration in autonomous multi-robot teams operating in challenging terrains such as sandy, wooded, or wet environments where wheeled or tracked platforms may not operate effectively.

Lighter-Than-Air-Autonomous-Agent (LTA3) is used to facilitate development and testing of new swarm behaviors for teams of airborne autonomous systems.

PROTEUS is a system used to identify, query, and filter vessels based on user-defined criteria. This system can execute advanced queries resulting in robust, timely, and informative track updates.

Pyrocumulonimbus (PyroCb) plumes generated by current wildfires in the U.S. and Canada. Subject matter experts from NRL will be available in the virtual booth to answer questions about PyroCb “smoke thunderclouds,” which produce lightning, hail, but little, if any, precipitation.

Zinc-based batteries offer a safe, inexpensive alternative to fire-prone lithium-based batteries, yet have been historically limited by poor recharge ability. NRL has eradicated this centuries-old roadblock by developing a 3D zinc (Zn) “sponge” electrode architecture comprising interpenetrating networks of Zn scaffolding and void space.
 

Schedules - Presentations and Exhibit Booth #302
 
 

About the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory 

NRL is a scientific and engineering command dedicated to research that drives innovative advances for the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps from the seafloor to space and in the information domain. NRL is located in Washington, D.C. with major field sites in Stennis Space Center, Mississippi; Key West, Florida; Monterey, California, and employs approximately 3,000 civilian scientists, engineers and support personnel.

For more information, contact NRL Corporate Communications at (202) 424-9955 or nrlpao@nrl.navy.mil.