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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 | March 6, 2024

NRL Researcher Awarded Grant to Study Nanotechnology Sensors

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

WASHINGTON  –   U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) research chemist, Braden C. Giordano, Ph.D., is the recipient of the National Science Foundation (NSF) Convergence Accelerator Grant.
 
Giordano, a member of a team led by the McKelvey School of Engineering at Washington University, St. Louis, was awarded the $650,000 grant for continued research incorporating artificial intelligence (AI) and nanotechnology into sensors capable of detecting explosive volatile organic compounds.
 
The team has been working for nearly two decades to harness the keen sense of smell of insects into a sensor that could be used to detect explosives and for use in other applications.
 
Barani Raman, professor of biomedical engineering and principle investigator at Washington University received the grant to develop this sensor. Giordano, who is the Associate Superintendent of the Chemistry Division at NRL, will lead test and evaluation efforts.
 
“For the last decade we have worked to develop trace explosives vapor generation and validation techniques to assist researchers in evaluating their sensors. We are excited for the opportunity to be part of the team,” said Giordano.
 
Using the information gathered from their research in developing bio-inspired sensors, the team plans to create an AI-enabled, nanoparticle-based ‘electronic nose’ device that can be used to gather and validate data. This portable proof-of-concept device would merge two ideas: a large, nanostructured chemical sensor array with diverse functions and the sensing and AI principles it has identified in the olfactory system of locusts. From the data collected, they plan to develop a library of known signatures for various explosive vapors at various concentration ranges. 
 
NRL’s role in this program is to leverage their years of experience in the generation and validation of trace explosive vapors to support the comprehensive evaluation of the chemical sensor arrays formulated in this program. Trace chemical detection and in particular the detection of explosives is of obvious concern to the Department of Defense.  NRL’s ability to support sensor developers during test and evaluation is critical to both understanding and improving performance metrics. 
 
The NSF Convergence Accelerator program addresses national-scale societal challenges through convergence research and seeks to transition basic research and discovery into practice to solve these challenges to align with specific research themes, including real-world chemical sensing applications.

Launched in 2019, the NSF Convergence Accelerator program invests more than $10 million in 16 teams to develop novel technologies and solutions to challenges posed by hazardous chemicals.


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@us.navy.mil.