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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 | May 2, 2022

NRL Tech Transfer Continues Forging Partnerships With Sherwin-Williams

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

WASHINGTON  –   The U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) Technology Transfer Office plays an important role in demonstrating NRL as a leader in technology innovation. Recently, NRL entered into a Limited Government Purpose License (GPL) with The Sherwin-Williams Company.
 
NRL has developed polysiloxane nonskid coatings with extended durability. Sherwin-Williams requested a Limited Government Purpose License to make, use, and sell the invention directly and solely to shipyards or contractors performing maintenance, repair, or new construction of vessels owned by the U.S. Government.
 
“The polysiloxane nonskid coating developed by NRL represents a significant advancement in technology over standard products available on the market today,” Mark Schultz, Business Development Manager for Sherwin-Williams Protective & Marine said. “This novel solution with extended durability and excellent color retention, the polysiloxane nonskid coating doesn’t chalk, discolor or fade, and can be rolled or spray-applied – helping minimize waste, increasing efficiencies in the coatings maintenance process, and reducing overcoating for aesthetic purposes. This combination of benefits has been well received by the U.S. Navy.”
 
A key part of NRL’s mission is the development and transition of technologies to support the Navy, and more broadly, the warfighter. NRL’s intellectual property can be used to support those – and other U.S. Government-specific – efforts. NRL offers no-cost GPLs to any of our over 1,200 patented or patent-pending technologies and protected software.
 
“NRL’s wide breadth of intellectual property are available for use at no cost by the private sector in performance of awarded U.S. Government contracts,” Holly Ricks-Laskoski, Ph.D., NRL’s Technology Transfer Office senior partnership manager said. “Leveraging NRL’s intellectual property in this way is an opportunity for cost savings for our government contractor partners.”
 
NRL partners with a wide variety of organizations including industry, academia and other government organizations to accelerate the development and transition of new and innovative technologies for the warfighter.
 
“We are very appreciative of our long-standing partnership with NRL. The innovation, testing and evaluation of forward-looking technologies has produced tangible results for our customers in terms of lowering total ownership cost and effectively maintaining ship schedules,” Bryan Draga, Global Vice President of Marketing for Sherwin-Williams Protective & Marine said. “Sherwin-Williams has been uniquely qualified to bring the MIL-Spec products and technologies to the market thanks to our quality manufacturing processes and MIL-Spec controls.”
 
Sherwin-Williams’ formulation was submitted for the Department of Defense Qualified Products Database evaluation and qualified under military specification MIL-PRF-24667 for a Type V non-skid coating.
 
For those companies looking to work with NRL, Ricks-Laskoski, said, “NRL is open and we are looking forward to working with you.”
 
The polysiloxane non-skid coating is described and claimed in U.S. Patent Nos. 9,006,307 and 9,034,946 issued 14 April, 2015 and 19 May, 2015, respectively.
 

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.