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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 31, 2023

NRL Launched First Time-Based Navigation Satellite in 1967

By Daniel Parry, Corporate Communications, U.S. Naval Research Laboratory

WASHINGTON, DC  –   The launch of the TIMATION satellite on May 31, 1967 proved that a system using a passive ranging technique, combined with highly accurate atomic clocks, could provide the basis for a new and revolutionary navigation system, providing longitude, latitude, and altitude around the globe.
 
Before the era of artificial satellites, the accuracy of navigation had not improved much beyond that available from celestial techniques. With the introduction of satellite navigation systems, a new order of magnitude of accuracy became possible.
 
A vision of NRL research physicist, Roger Easton, TIMATION, short for ‘time navigation,’ introduced continuous navigation fixes from satellites in low Earth orbit (LEO).
 
In the TIMATION system, a satellite contains a stable oscillator that controls its transmissions. Navigators receive these transmissions and compare with outputs from their own ship-based oscillator. If both oscillators are suitably synchronized, satellite range and position can be determined and the navigator can then use celestial-navigation techniques to determine the position of their ship.
 
To authenticate proof of concept, NRL-operated experimental space-surveillance stations in south Texas were used to calibrate the satellite oscillator and preliminary “looks” at the orbital data revealed that the satellite's positions could be predicted well enough to provide navigation fixes accurate to within a few tenths of a mile.
 
Through the development and deployment of three additional experimental satellites: TIMATION II in 1969; Navigation Technology Satellite (NTS-I) in 1974; and the first satellite to fly a rubidium atomic frequency standard in a 12-hour GPS orbit, NTS-2, in 1977; and the first satellite to fly a cesium atomic frequency standard. Easton had unequivocally proven the practicality of using satellite-based atomic clocks for precision global navigation.

Using time measurements from NTS-2, Easton was able to verify Einstein's theory of relativity, affirming the need for a relativistic offset correction that remains in use today by every satellite in our modern day GPS constellation.


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.