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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 | July 1, 2024

Winners of the 2024 Student CanSat Competition Announced

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

WASHINGTON  –   Hosted by the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL), American Astronautical Society (AAS) and NASA, the 2024 student CanSat competition concludes with Team PWr Aerospace, Wroclaw University of Science and Technology, Poland, the victor.
 
Created by AAS and the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA), the International CanSat Competition is an undergraduate and graduate level design-build-launch event simulating the end-to-end life cycle of a “complex engineering project.”
 
Since its conception in 2005, the competition has become an annual event providing a unique opportunity for international university and college student teams to design, build, and launch a soda can-size satellite – CanSat – designed to meet specific mission objectives. Participating teams must be able to design and build a space-type system following the approved competition guidelines, and then compete against each other at the end of two semesters to determine winners.
 
As in previous years, the mission is designed to simulate the mission and landing sequence of an extraterrestrial planetary probe.
 
Criteria for the competition state, once the Cansat is deployed from the rocket, it shall descend using a parachute at a rate of 15 meters per-second (m/s). At 500 meters, the Cansat shall release a probe that will open a heat shield that will also be used as an aerobraking device with a descent rate of 20 m/s or less. At this stage, use of a parachute, streamer, parafoil, or similar device is prohibited.
 
When the probe reaches 200 meters, the probe can then deploy a parachute and slow the descent rate to 5 m/s. Once the probe has landed, it is to attempt to upright itself and raise a flag above the probe. A video camera shall also be included as part of the payload and should be pointed towards the ground during descent.
 
This year’s competition included students from 31 universities and colleges from around the globe converging in Monterey, Virginia, June 6-9 to finalize proof of concept. After a full day of planning and preparation, each of the 31 team’s launch, tracking and recovery efforts are assessed and judged.
For the 19th annual competition, the top five winners of 2024 are recorded as follows:
 
  • First place - Team PWr Aerospace, Wroclaw University of Science and Technology, Wroclaw, Poland
  • Second place - Team Shockwave, University of Alabama Huntsville (UAH), United States
  • Third place - Team KoNaR Can, Scientific Society of Roboticists KoNaR, Wroclaw, Poland
  • Fourth place to Team UCI CanSat, University of California Irvine (UCI), United States
  • Fifth place to Team SEDS ITBA, Instituto Tecnológico de Buenos Aires (ITBA), Buenos Aires, Argentina
“Congratulations to the winners and all participants of this exciting and challenging demonstration of engineering prowess, ingenuity and team collaboration,” said Ivan Galysh, Head, NRL Signal Processing Section. “We look forward to the return of many teams and the engagement of many more new teams as we head into the 20th anniversary of this spectacular event.”
 
For a complete listing and ranking of all participating teams, as well as information regarding the annual CanSat competition, please visit: https://cansatcompetition.com/
 
 
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.