plasma-physics

PPPL researchers have identified a novel mechanism in which expanding plasmas rapidly self-magnetize through the Weibel instability, generating magnetic fields strong enough to alter heat transport. The finding, supported by first-principles simulations, has direct implications for inertial fusion research and for understanding how magnetic fields arise in astrophysical plasmas.

This is a 6MJ (12MJ overdrive) plasma needle device I came up with and how it works. Yes it is technically a laser (population inverted plasmon resonator-coherent plasmatic beam continuity) that can do fusion because it creates perfect fractal plasma resonance. It also grows... Read more

In a striking glimpse into extreme physics, scientists have captured the split-second chaos that unfolds when powerful laser flashes blast matter into a superheated plasma. By combining two cutting-edge lasers, researchers were able to track how copper atoms lose and regain electrons in trillionths of a second, creating and dissolving highly charged ions in a rapid, almost cinematic sequence.

Toroidal plasma confinement configurations with noncircular cross sections. Dagazian, Rostom Yeya Serkos. Thesis: Ph. D., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Nuclear Engineering, 1972; 4 unnumbered blank leaves inserted. Vita.; Includes bibliographical references.

Design of a correlation reflectometer radiometer diagnostic and measurements of the electron density–temperature cross-phase angle in the H-mode pedestal with small edge localized modes at ASDEX Upgrade Yoo, C; Conway, GD; Burke, W; Cabrera, PA Molina; Vanovac, B; Bielajew, R; Cruz-Zabala, DJ; Silva, A; White, AE This work presents the hardware design and first results from a newly commissioned c…

The plasmasphere contains rich small-scale structure that plays a key role in regulating wave propagation and mass transport in the inner magnetosphere, yet the evolution of plasmaspheric density ducts remains poorly understood. We use joint observations from the Van Allen Probes to investigate how density structures change over time by identifying matched structures observed by both spacecraft d…

Across turbulence, neural networks, bioenergetics, chaos theory, and plasma physics, a recurring structural motif appears: localized coherence nodes organize global system behavior within dissipative environments. The Δ±1 framework proposes a cross-scale vocabulary for this convergence.

Nature Electronics, Published online: 29 April 2026; doi:10.1038/s41928-026-01611-6 A programmable platform that encodes plasmonic skyrmions with diverse topologies, including Néel-type skyrmions and merons, can be used for robust wireless communication and intelligent sensing.

A new 10-year project agreement between the U.S. Department of Energy and the Max Planck Institute for Plasma Physics will advance research on the Wendelstein 7-X stellarator and marks the first partnership established under a new model project framework between the U.S. and European Commission. The framework streamlines the process for initiating and expanding joint fusion research efforts.

Scientific Reports, Published online: 25 April 2026; doi:10.1038/s41598-026-50226-6 Numerical simulation of the microscopic discharge processes in SF 6 /N 2 mixtures: Effects of gas composition, voltage, and electric field distribution

This schematic of the receiver plane illustrates the definition of the laser deflection angle and the laser transverse displacement. The ideal laser beam should be parallel to the z-axis and pass through the intersection point of the x- and y-axis. However, when the real laser beam passes through the space plasma, it generates a deflection of the laser direction (red dashed line) and a displaceme…

Source: Science Daily - Top News Physicists have taken a major step toward using AI not just to analyze data, but to uncover new laws of nature. By combining a specialized neural network with precise 3D tracking of particles in a dusty plasma—a strange "fourth state of matter" found from space to wildfires—the team revealed hidden patterns in how particles interact. Their model captured complex f…

Co-designed by IBM, the UKAEA, and STFC Hartree Centre, the model could help to advance nuclear fusion as an alternative to fossil fuels.

Physicists have taken a major step toward using AI not just to analyze data, but to uncover entirely new laws of nature. By combining a specially designed neural network with precise 3D tracking of particles in a dusty plasma—a strange “fourth state of matter” found from space to wildfires—the team revealed hidden patterns in how particles interact. Their model captured complex, one-way (non-reci…

Existing heat shields must both survive the heat from atmospheric friction and insulate the spacecraft from this friction. However, if one used a technique similar to supercavitating in in a liquid, ...

Investigation of Compact Liquid Organic Scintillators for Neutron Spectrum Measurements in Tokamaks Lanzrath, Andrew Thomas Neutron diagnostics play a key role in both magnetic confinement and inertial confinement fusion platforms and will be increasingly more important as those systems continue to improve with more devices achieving burning plasma performance. Many fuel cycles, such as deuterium…

Characterization of the DIII-D High-Field Side Scrape-Off Layer and Implications for High-Field Side Lower Hybrid Current Drive Leppink, Evan High-field side lower hybrid current drive (HFS LHCD) is a potential candidate to provide efficient, non-inductive, off-axis current drive in tokamaks for steady-state operation, stability control, and/or access to advanced tokamak scenarios. The first expe…

Analysis of Runaway-Electron-Driven Whistler Waves on MST Xiao, Yiru This thesis presents a detailed linear and quasilinear analysis of runaway-electron-driven whistler waves using experimental data from shot 1220511040 on the Madison Symmetric Torus (MST). A key novel aspect of this work is the investigation of the previously overlooked normal Doppler resonance (n=+1), which offers a new perspec…

Study of turbulent electron temperature fluctuations and their cross-phase angles with electron density fluctuations at the ASDEX Upgrade tokamak Yoo, Christian Turbulence is generally the dominant mechanism for energy transport in tokamak fusion reactors and has thus far prevented tokamaks from producing net energy. The measurement of plasma turbulence is important for improving our understandin…