Plasma production and heating is a research area focused on generating ionized gases and raising their temperature and energy content to conditions required for fundamental studies and applications such as magnetic and inertial confinement fusion, space propulsion, and high-energy-density physics. It encompasses methods of plasma formation (e.g., gas breakdown, beam- or laser-induced ionization, RF discharges) and a range of heating schemes including ohmic (resistive) heating, radio-frequency and microwave heating, neutral beam injection, and wave–particle interaction techniques. Research addresses efficiency, control of energy deposition, stability, impurity management, and optimization of plasma parameters for confinement and performance.
In a few picoseconds (trillionths of a second), a small, thin piece of copper momentarily becomes dense plasma, specifically a state called warm dense matter, warm being a relative term—the metal is nearly 200,000 degrees ...
Plasma Physics
Sep 18, 2024
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Extreme conditions prevail inside stars and planets. The pressure reaches millions of bars, and it can be several million degrees hot. Sophisticated methods make it possible to create such states of matter in the laboratory—albeit ...
General Physics
Sep 12, 2024
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Some believe the future of fusion in the U.S. lies in compact, spherical fusion vessels. A smaller tokamak, it is thought, could offer a more economical fusion option. The trick is squeezing everything into a small space. ...
Plasma Physics
Aug 6, 2024
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250
In the realm of fusion research, the control of plasma density, temperature, and heating is crucial for enhancing reactor performance. Effective confinement of plasma particles and heat, especially maintaining high density ...
Plasma Physics
Jun 24, 2024
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159
Terahertz waves, known as non-ionizing radiation, can turn into ionization radiation when sufficiently many terahertz photons are focused in space and time. A team led by scientists in Korea and the U.S. has created the world's ...
Optics & Photonics
May 28, 2024
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309
Both literally and figuratively, light pervades the world. It banishes darkness, conveys telecommunications signals between continents and makes visible the invisible, from faraway galaxies to the smallest bacterium. Light ...
Optics & Photonics
May 23, 2024
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293
The interaction of solids with high-intensity ultra-short laser pulses has enabled major technological breakthroughs over the past half-century. On the one hand, laser ablation of solids offers micromachining and miniaturization ...
Optics & Photonics
May 14, 2024
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124
Creating heat from fusion reactions requires carefully manipulating the properties of plasma, the electrically charged fourth state of matter that makes up 99% of the visible universe.
Plasma Physics
Apr 30, 2024
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164
In the nine decades since humans first produced fusion reactions, only a few fusion technologies have demonstrated the ability to make a thermal fusion plasma with electron temperatures hotter than 10 million degrees Celsius, ...
Plasma Physics
Apr 23, 2024
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535
Ultra-intense ultrashort lasers are powerful tools used in various fields like physics, national security, industry, and health care. They help researchers delve into strong-field laser physics, laser-driven radiation sources, ...
Optics & Photonics
Apr 2, 2024
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