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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 | Feb. 12, 2024

NRL Announces New Associate Director of Research for Ocean and Atmospheric Science and Technology

By Mary Hamisevicz, U.S. Naval Research Laboratory Corporate Communications

WASHINGTON  –   The U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) announces the appointment of Christoph Englert, Ph.D., as the next Associate Director of Research for Ocean and Atmospheric Science and Technology.
 
The directorate serves as the research lead for the Navy in ocean and atmospheric sciences with special strengths in physical oceanography, marine geosciences, ocean acoustics, marine meteorology, space sciences, and remote oceanic and atmospheric sensing. The directorate is responsible for administrative and technical support to major activities in Washington, D.C.; Stennis Space Center, Mississippi; and Monterey, California.
 
“My goals are to continue to develop the directorate’s ability to advance key science and to provide critical capabilities to the fleet.” said Englert. “In addition, I plan on tightening the connection between research and operations, balancing technology pull with innovative, basic science.”
 
Englert joined NRL’s Space Science Division in 2001 and served as an instrument scientist for a space shuttle instrument flown in 2002.  This project led to a novel upper atmospheric wind sensor, led by Dr. Englert and flown on the NASA ICON satellite mission, launched in 2019. Dr. Englert was also part of a three-year, multi-division and multi-institution effort to demonstrate 72-hour forecasting of the Earth’s ionosphere, an effort that involved new sensors, observations, data analysis, data assimilation, upper-atmospheric modelling and forecasting, toward new capabilities for the Navy.
 
He worked with Space Shuttle crews and has had the opportunity to lead space flight instrumentation projects, developing them from an initial idea all the way to the interpretation of the data. He has enjoyed working with world class scientists and engineers on projects of national importance.“I am very pleased Dr. Englert has agreed to take on the increased responsibilities and accepted this NRL leadership position. This directorate performs basic and applied research, as well as advanced development, to improve our understanding, and to develop new technologies and new applications in the natural environment, from the sea floor through the entire water column, to the atmosphere and to space.” said Bruce Danly, Ph.D., Director of Research, “I look forward to working closely with Dr. Englert in the months and years ahead.”
 
Englert holds a graduate degree in physics from the Technical University of Munich and a doctorate degree (summa cum laude) in physics from the University of Bremen. He is the recipient of a 2007 Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation, a 2007 Department of the Navy Top Scientists and Engineers of the Year Award, two NASA Group Achievement Awards (2008/2021), a 2010 American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) Space Systems Award, and a 2014 Federal Technology Transfer Award.
 
Additionally, he is the author or co-author of over 100 peer-reviewed scientific publications and holds six patents in the fields of space science and instrumentation. Englert is a Senior Member of Optica; a member of the American Geophysical Union; a member of Sigma Xi and past president of its NRL chapter. He also serves as the Focus Area Coordinator of Space Research and Space Technology in the NRL Science and Technology Base Program, the chair of the Department of the Navy Space Experiment Review Board, and the vice-chair of the NASA Heliophysics Advisory Committee.

 

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.