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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 | Jan. 6, 2003

NRL WindSat Experiment Launches January 6

By U.S. Naval Research Laboratory Corporate Communications

WASHINGTON  –  

A government and industry team launched the Coriolis mission today from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, aboard a Titan II Space Launch Vehicle. The Air Force Coriolis mission will fly the Naval Research Laboratory's (NRL's) WindSat microwave polarimetric radiometer and Air Force Solar Mass Ejection Imager in a low Earth, sun synchronous orbit.

NRL's WindSat radiometer will provide important meteorological information on wind speed and direction at or near the surface of the ocean and the Air Force Solar Mass Ejection Imager will provide valuable early warning of coronal mass ejections that affect communications and power distribution systems here on earth.

WindSat was developed by NRL, under the sponsorship of the National Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite System (NPOESS) Integrated Program Office (IPO). Polarimetric radiometry characterizes the polarization properties of the surface emission from the ocean surface. NRL's WindSat experiment will enable measurement of the ocean surface wind speed and direction for the first time with a radiometer system. The experiment will demonstrate the viability of using polarimetry to passively measure the wind vector from space and then provide usable tactical information to Navy units. WindSat will also help reduce risks associated with NPOESS by proving the concept of using a space-based radiometer for measuring ocean surface wind speed and direction.

Previous airborne experiments have demonstrated that the microwave emission from the ocean surface varies based on wind speed and wind direction. The measurements from these earlier experiments have been used to retrieve the ocean surface wind vector. WindSat will be able to extract the brightness temperature data from the microwave energy emitted by the ocean and generate data products that are downlinked to users on the ground in real time.

WindSat's expected applications are wide ranging. In addition to furnishing the Navy with unique sensors and proof of concept for use on future NPOESS satellites, WindSat will provide real-time on-scene tactical support and battlespace awareness that is critical in situations such as with precision guided munitions; avoidance of nuclear biological and chemical agents; ship routing and tropical cyclone avoidance; and, search and rescue operations.

At NRL, the development of WindSat was a combined effort involving researchers from the Remote Sensing Division and the Naval Center for Space Technology.

Note:After several launch attempts were scrubbed between mid-December and early January, the Coriolis mission was successfully launched on Monday, January 6 at 9:18 a.m. EST.


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.