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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 | April 1, 2022

NRL to feature key programs, innovative technologies at National Space Symposium

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

WASHINGTON  –   The U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) will showcase cutting-edge space-related programs and technologies and highlight ways to share ideas or capabilities with NRL, during the 37th Space Symposium in exhibit booth #625 at the at The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs and virtually through the Virtual Experience platform April 4-7, 2022.

The annual event will reconvene all sectors of the space ecosystem to inform, update and connect international space agencies, commercial space businesses, military, national security and intelligence organizations, federal and state government agencies, private space travel providers, space entrepreneurs, and more. More than 15 heads of space agencies are expected to speak, with over 10,000 attendees expected from more than 25 countries.

More information on panels with NRL speakers:

What: Panel discussion – Combining Science and Technology: A Service Labs Discussion, moderated by Andrew Williams, Ph.D., deputy technology executive officer for Space Science and Technology, that focuses on accomplishments in science and technology, opportunities for collaboration among the service labs and future plans for protecting our nation’s vital interests in space.
 
Time: 8:45 a.m. MST (10:45 a.m. EST), April 7
Location: International Center
 
Panelists:
  • Bruce Danly, Ph.D.; Director of Research, U.S. Naval Research Laboratory
  • Maj. Gen. Heather Pringle, Commander, Air Force Research Laboratory
  • Capt. Daniel Keane, commanding officer of the U.S. Coast Guard Research and Development Center
 
NRL Programs
Other NRL Space Science Ocean and Atmospheric Science and Technology, Space System Development programs and technologies scheduled to be highlighted include Hypersonics/SMASH, Radiant Sprinter MONGOOSE (RSMG), and the Variable Voltage Ion Protection Experiment (VVIPR).

Other technologies scheduled to be highlighted include:
  • CCOR – CCOR is a space borne solar imaging sensor that continuously searches for massive, large scale, and fast moving concentrations of Earth-directed solar plasma. Analysis of CCOR image plasma concentration content is used predict geomagnetic storm severity and onset times.
  • OCEAN – Orbit/Covariance Estimation and ANalysis (OCEAN) is a state-of-the-art orbit determination, ephemeris propagation, and timing calibration software suite. OCEAN applies high fidelity models and advanced estimation techniques to provide precise and accurate satellite ephemeris, orbit predictions, and covariance products throughout the mission lifetime.
  • LARADO – Light-sheet Anomaly Resolution and Debris Observation, and it’s a space-based design concept for using satellite and laser technology to detect orbital debris in sizes that currently are not detectable from the ground.
  • CIRCE – CIRCE comprises twin 6U CubeSats flying at 600 km (372 miles) in a lead/trail formation 300-500 km (186-310 miles) apart in the same orbit plane to measure Earth’s ionosphere and particle radiation environment. The payload includes five low size, weight, and power insitu and remote space environment sensors from the Department of the Navy (US) and Ministry of Defense (UK).
  • RAMS – The Ram Angle and Magnetic Field Sensor (RAMS) is a PicoSat- compatible attitude sensor based on sensing the ram direction. RAMS uses a small magnetometer combined with a quad-collector geometry with incidence axis aligned to a rigid satellite reference to obtain the centroid of the neutral and ion flux distributions with respect to the satellite velocity.
  • ROOSTER – Proteus’ data aggregator, is the first stage of data processing within Proteus that runs in the FedRamp certified AWS GovCloud. All components are virtualized and adapted to AWS. ROOSTER takes in unclassified maritime data from multiple land, air and space based sensor systems, open source, and other miscellaneous sources, and then parses, validates, de-duplicates, and normalizes all unclassified incoming information from diverse sources, protocols, and formats into a single, standard XML format.


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.