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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 | Sept. 26, 2024

VXS-1 Squadron Continues the Mission, Tracking Potential Tropical Cyclone

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

WASHINGTON  –   U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) Scientific Development Squadron ONE (VXS) 1 takes to the skies to deploy observational buoys in front of Hurricane Helene’s projected path on Tuesday, Sept. 24 providing real-time forecasts to the National Oceanographic Partnership Program (NOPP) Hurricane Coastal Impacts (NHCI) team for timely prediction and operational readiness.
 
“This is the second gulf hurricane the Warlocks have flown on in two weeks and the most buoys we have ever dropped on a NHCI mission,” said Scientific Development Squadron ONE (VXS) 1 Commanding Officer Cmdr. Aaron Roberts. “We just finished showcasing the mission at the Oceana Airshow before flying on Helene. I am impressed by my team’s ability to adapt to the unpredictable and rapidly developing hurricanes this year.”
 
During the 7.8 hour flight, the team dropped 29 buoys in the Gulf of Mexico along the Florida and Alabama coastline. Four different variations of buoys were used for data collection including four submersibles, six spotters, three Directional Wave Spectra Drifters, and three Surface Wave Instrument Floats with Tracking.
 
The aircrew are comprised of Commanding Officer Cmdr. Aaron Roberts, Maintenance Officer Lt. John Leyba, Senior Enlisted Leader Chief Petty Officer (AWFC) Fred Lewis, First Class Petty Officer (AWF1)  Cassandra Gapinski, First Class Petty Officer (AWF1) Gavin Naughton, Operations Officer Lt Ben Cumberland, Quality Assurance Officer Lt Sean Carpenter, Project Specialist, Mr. Jacob Davis, and Project Specialist, Mr. Eric Stackpole.
 
“The array of air-deployed drifting buoys and submersible instruments was designed by the NHCI team, including scientists from the Marine Meteorology Division who provided real-time forecasts from NRL’s Coupled Ocean/Atmosphere Mesoscale Prediction System for Tropical Cyclones, or COAMPS-TC, and insight into the observing strategy for Hurricane Helene”, said James Doyle, Ph.D., Senior Scientist for Mesoscale Meteorology from the Marine Meteorology Division.
 
COAMPS-TC is a specialized version of the Navy’s mesoscale numerical weather prediction model, designed to predict tropical cyclone track, intensity and structure.  COAMPS-TC was named the world’s most accurate in predicting hurricane strengths during the 2019 Atlantic hurricane season by Jeff Masters, Ph.D., in Yale’s August 2020 Climate Connections.
 
The drifting buoys will record the height of the waves and direction the waves are headed, and how these wave characteristics change as Hurricane Helene moves through the array. The submersible instruments will sense water depth to measure the height of the storm surge produced by Helene.  
 
“Understanding how a hurricane interacts with the ocean to generate waves and surge is key to understanding and predicting coastal impacts of land falling hurricanes” said Mesoscale Modeling Section Head (Acting) Jonathan Moskaitis, Ph.D. “The ocean surface waves generated by the hurricane also provide drag on the storm's low-level winds, which is an important feedback to simulate in specialized hurricane prediction models like the Navy's COAMPS model.  Observations of waves in the extreme environment of the hurricane inner core will provide unique insight into how account for surface drag in COAMPS-TC.”
 
The “Warlocks” of VXS-1 are on call to deploy environmental observation buoys in advance of hurricanes along the East Coast and Gulf of Mexico during the June through November hurricane season. The squadron quickly responded Tuesday morning to the rapidly evolving storm conditions of Helene.    
 
 
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.