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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. 10, 2025

NRL’s Mercury Pulsed Power Facility Marks Two Decades of Innovation

By Nicholas E. M. Pasquini, U.S. Naval Research Laboratory Corporate Communications

WASHINGTON, D.C.   –   The U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) marks a major milestone with the 20th anniversary of the Mercury Pulsed Power Facility, a cutting-edge research platform that continues to enable significant advancements in the fields of flash x-ray radiography, detection of nuclear materials, and radiation hardness of defense systems.
 
“Mercury remains a highly versatile and configurable platform for testing particle and radiation effects on materials and systems,” said NRL Plasma Physics Division Superintendent Joe Peñano, Ph.D. “Its low-cost, high-throughput capability make it ideal for developmental research ahead of full-scale testing on the larger national facilities.”
 
The Mercury facility is capable of generating high-voltage, high-current pulses of electricity (e.g. “an experimental shot” ranging from 2 - 8 million volts and 60 - 350 thousand amps with a pulse 50 billionths of a second long, approximately 2 terawatts) used to study a wide range of phenomena and applications in many areas, including: plasma physics, electromagnetic effects in circuits, and materials science.
 
"Mercury has been a vital facility for our research community," said NRL Pulsed Power Physics Branch Head Joseph Schumer, Ph.D.  "Its unique flexibility has enabled us to push the boundaries of what is possible in pulsed power diode research, and we are proud of our work in the areas of advanced radiographic diodes and radiation sources for national needs." 
 
Since its ribbon-cutting on Dec. 7, 2004, the Mercury facility remains at the forefront of pulsed power-driven beam research, providing scientists and engineers with a unique tool to study high-energy phenomena and develop innovative technologies.
 
This facility is managed by a small team of physicists, engineers, and pulsed power technicians within NRL’s Pulsed Power Physics Branch.  In December 2024, the team completed their 3000th experimental shot developing advanced flash radiography sources and detectors used by Department of Energy and Department of Defense.
 
Through the years, the NRL team has collaborated with other national and international research institutions, university, military, and industry partners to advance the state-of-the-art in pulsed power-driven technologies and works closely with the Department of Energy.
 
Over the past 20 years, the Mercury facility has been used for research and development of various sources including: self-magnetically pinched diode; the vacuum rod-pinch diode; high-energy large-area diodes to be used as x-ray/neutron sources for the detection of smuggled nuclear materials; and advanced diagnostics for flash radiography such as gamma-ray cameras and x-ray spectrometers.
 
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. Please reference package number at top of press release.
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