plasma-diagnostics-and-applications

Scientific Reports, Published online: 25 June 2026; doi:10.1038/s41598-026-59477-9 Impact of ECRH on runaway electron generation during plasma disruptions in the HL-3 tokamak

Researchers were unsure whether alpha particles would aid or hinder fusion. Simulations suggest they help, by dampening turbulence.

How could we noninvasively distinguish between healthy and cancerous tissue? And how could we increase the speed of wireless communications? These two seemingly unrelated questions may share the same answer: terahertz (THz) light. Spanning frequencies between 0.3 and 20 THz, THz light interacts with matter without causing damage and allows for faster data transfer than […]

NASA’s upgraded Cold Atom Lab is turning the International Space Station into a frontier for quantum research, creating ultra-cold matter that behaves in astonishing ways. The experiments could unlock new discoveries about the universe while paving the way for powerful future technologies in space and on Earth.

Researchers from Nagoya University, Boise State University, Korea Institute of Fusion Energy, Hitachi High-Tech Corp. and Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory published a technical paper titled “Recent Progress in Atomic-Scale Controlled Plasma Processing.” Abstract Excerpt: “Atomic-scale control in plasma processing is becoming increasingly critical for fabricating of advanced semiconductor devic…

This document is Paper 1 of a three part series derived from the unified canonical reference GREMN v25. The v25 mother document contains the complete analytical framework for the Griffiths Rotating Electromagnetic Nozzle including all physics engineering subsystems validation architecture and mission applications. The present paper isolates the physics and MHD theory layer for readers whose prima…

This document is Paper 3 of a three part series derived from the unified canonical reference GREMN v25. The v25 mother document contains the complete analytical framework for the Griffiths Rotating Electromagnetic Nozzle including physics engineering subsystems validation architecture and mission applications. Paper 3 isolates the mission and systems layer for readers whose primary focus is space…

High above our heads, a silent battle is unfolding within Earth’s magnetic shield. For decades, scientists have tracked “killer electrons”—ultrafast particles capable of piercing satellite armor and endangering astronauts as they zip through the Van Allen radiation belts. While we knew these dangerous particles eventually leak out of the belts and into the atmosphere, the […]

Abstract Atomic-scale control in plasma processing is becoming increasingly critical for fabricating of advanced semiconductor devices, particularly as the industry shifts toward three-dimensional (3D) architectures and high-aspect-ratio (HAR) structures. This review presents a comprehensive overview of recent developments in atomic-scale controlled plasma processes, organized along two key direc…

Inertial electrostatic confinement fusion devices (fusors) are becoming increasingly attractive neutron sources, and are well suited for global distribution with great humanitarian benefits. However, such neutrons are agnostic to the user’s intent, so could in theory be used for malicious means. This paper discusses the feasibility of using fusors to convert fertile thorium-232 or uranium-238 int…

This manuscript develops a mathematically disciplined version of the electromagnetic motherboard hypothesis. It does not assert that all gravitational curvature is electromagnetic in origin. Instead, it advances a focused and testable claim: in a wide class of physically important systems—plasmas, jets, accretion flows, magnetospheres, radiation fields, and atomic structure—electromagnetic fields…

Bob Mumgaard is an engineer and entrepreneur who co-founded Commonwealth Fusion Systems and serves as its chief executive officer. Trained in applied plasma physics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, he has worked on fusion energy technologies and efforts to commercialize fusion power. [This interview was edited for length and clarity.] How would you describe the current state of Ameri…

Nature Communications, Published online: 15 June 2026; doi:10.1038/s41467-026-74298-0 Recent developments of proton acceleration have demonstrated remarkable energies, yet further insight into the acceleration mechanism is needed to fully achieve application-relevant regimes. Here, the authors demonstrate a hybrid scheme where the established target normal sheath acceleration mechanism is enhance…

Researchers from The University of Osaka, National Institute for Fusion Science, National Institutes for Quantum Science and Technology, and Osaka Metropolitan University, et al. have published “Optimization of EUV output by experimentally validated radiation-hydrodynamic simulations across a broad laser parameter space”.   Abstract “Practical requirements such as improving wall-plug efficiency a…

PPPL welcomes the arrival of the central magnet bundle for its National Spherical Torus Experiment-Upgrade, a crucial step in resuming the device's research operations.

Controlled nuclear fusion, recognized as the ultimate solution to humanity's energy crisis, has failed to achieve sustained stable operation with an energy gain factor Q > 10 after 70 years of research. The traditional research paradigm treats plasma and confinement fields as two opposing entities, trapping itself in a vicious cycle of "more complex technology, more instabilities". Based on the u…