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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 | March 28, 2022

NRL Electronic Science and Technology Division leading the wave of crucial DoD electronic technological advances

By Samina Mondal, U.S. Naval Research Laboratory Corporate Communications

WASHINGTON  –   The U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) Electronics Science and
Technology Division (ESTD) actively performs research and development in a variety of materials science, physics, and engineering fields pursuing technological advances crucial to the Department of Defense’s (DoD) future high-performance electronic systems.

Research topics span all aspects of electronics, such as advanced fabrication methods for radio frequency (RF) devices, growth and characterization of exotic electronic materials, quantum information science, neuromorphic computing, power devices and solar cells, nanofabrication, and solid state and vacuum electronic RF sources.  

“NRL’s ESTD aims to harness 3D printing for electromagnetics, such as antennas, metamaterials, and millimeter-wave with RF amplifiers operating in very high frequency bands, such as 5G and beyond,” said Alan Cook, Ph.D., Head of Vacuum Electronics and Material Section.  “With precision build capabilities of these machines ranging in resolution from small fractions of a millimeter down to the 100-nanometer scale, NRL’s ESTD aims to foster DoD and Department of Navy concepts.”
 
Several types of wireless devices make use of radio frequency fields like cordless and cell phones, radio and television broadcast stations, satellite communication systems, Bluetooth module and Wi-Fi, and two-way radios all work in the RF spectrum.

The ESTD significant achievements in past decades have grown into the current cutting-edge research that are areas of leadership for NRL.  

“After pioneering gallium nitride (GaN) as a material for high-power RF devices and helping develop it into the industry-standard high-performance replacement for silicon electronics in many systems, ESTD is developing other wideband gap semiconductors to usher in the next generation of electronic devices for DoD systems,” Cook said. “ESTD research on quantum materials provided the foundation for the newly-minted Navy Quantum Information Research Center all housed at NRL’s facilities.”

Within its branches, ESTD carries out research to demonstrate new basic scientific phenomena and electronic component prototypes, to enable new capabilities for future Navy electronic systems.

Additive Manufacturing (AM), which includes 3D printing, is a method for building a 3D object bit-by-bit by depositing small pieces or layers of material using computer control. “AM is an area of Navy interest, spans a wide range of different technologies and materials, and has become important in nearly every sector of engineering,” Cook said.

Specific advantages of AM include manufacturing flexibility, the ability to combine many parts into one, and rapid production of parts in the field. Recent investment in new AM capabilities brings a variety of general-use 3D printer machines to NRL used for research by multiple divisions. Within the lab, ESTD often collaborates with other divisions and the Laboratory for Autonomous Systems Research (LASR) to develop new programs and research opportunities based on these capabilities.

“In terms of future production, ESTD is interested in using AM to advance Navy RF systems and other areas of electronics, and has unique 3D printing capabilities acquired specifically for NRL research programs,” Cook said.
         

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) 480-3746 or nrlpao@nrl.navy.mil.