Researchers at DOE's Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory discovered a way to more accurately measure the electrical properties of plasma. They found that a positive charge can sometimes surround probes, contradicting long-held assumptions about the plasma-wall sheath.
Researchers at PPPL will develop innovative X-ray diagnostics to measure plasma temperature and density, as well as tungsten content. The new instruments will provide vital information for future fusion devices.
A new test of a computer model revealed that understanding combined electron and ion heating can improve plasma production in ITER and future fusion facilities. This finding is crucial for advancing the development of fusion power.
The W7-X stellarator achieved improved heating and measurement capabilities with the help of large magnetic trim coils designed by PPPL, enabling plasma discharges lasting up to 30 seconds. The research demonstrated the ability to control error fields and measure magnetic field measurements of unprecedented accuracy.
Scientists have modeled plasma conditions that lead to chirping in fusion devices, revealing a connection between turbulence levels and Alfvén wave chirping. Lower turbulence reduces the fast ion wind's ability to cause chirping, which can slow fusion reactions.
The Facility for Laboratory Reconnection Experiment (FLARE) has successfully produced the first plasma, marking a significant milestone in research into magnetic reconnection. This process is crucial for understanding Northern Lights, solar eruptions, and geomagnetic storms.
Scientists have developed diagnostic tools to improve the controllable and selective fabrication of nanomaterials. New discoveries reveal that molecular precursors govern the synthesis of carbon nanotubes in a purely carbon electric arc. This breakthrough opens the door to improved predictive modeling of nanosynthesis.
Researchers have found that lithium can eliminate periodic instabilities in plasma known as edge-localized modes (ELMs) when used to coat tungsten surfaces. This improvement has good news for future devices designed to work with lithium, which can damage the divertor and cause fusion reactions to fizzle.
Researchers at DOE/Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory have found a way to reduce secondary electron emission by up to 80% using fractal fibers resembling feathers and whiskers. This breakthrough improves the performance of plasma devices such as spacecraft thrusters and particle accelerators.
Researchers used laser-created plasmas to simulate astrophysical behavior, finding two processes that transfer energy from magnetic reconnection to particles. Fermi acceleration and X-line acceleration were identified as key mechanisms.
Researchers have improved the vertical stability of a superconducting tokamak in Korea, allowing for taller plasmas and exceeding design requirements. The new control system uses advanced sensors and electronics to stabilize the plasma's position, enabling more efficient fusion reactions.
Scientists developed new simulations that model the behavior of plasma blobs in tokamaks, which can drain heat and hinder fusion reactions. The XGC1 code simulated two regions of the plasma edge simultaneously, providing a more fundamental understanding of how heat moves from plasma to walls.
Researchers have designed an innovative system using liquid lithium loops to clean and recycle tritium, a key fuel in future fusion power plants. The system aims to protect divertor plates from intense exhaust heat and remove dust and impurities from the plasma.
Researchers at PPPL studied the 2-D spatial correlations within turbulence in tokamaks to understand its origin and behavior. The study provides clues to the cause of heat leakage from magnetic confinement and could help predict turbulence behavior, deepening our understanding of fusion reactions.
New simulations led by PPPL provide positive news for ITER. Researchers estimate a heat flux width of up to 6 millimeters within the divertor plates' capacity to tolerate, far greater than previous projections. This finding indicates ITER can produce 10 times more power than it consumes without damaging the divertor plates prematurely.
Researchers have proposed a new approach to stabilizing next-generation fusion plasmas by understanding the impact of multiple Alfvén waves on high-energy particles. The study reveals that over 10 unstable waves can be excited, leading to up to 40% loss of energetic particles.
A team led by a Princeton University graduate student has developed a unique simulation of magnetic reconnection in space plasmas, which could lead to improved forecasts of space weather events. The new model approximates kinetic effects using fluid equations and agrees better with kinetic models than traditional simulations.
PPPL physicists lead crucial experiments on Wendelstein 7-X, a magnetic confinement fusion experiment in Germany. The facility aims to create steady state plasmas and model a future power plant for limitless clean energy.
Physicist Fatima Ebrahimi has used advanced models to simulate the cyclic behavior of edge-localized modes (ELMs), a type of plasma instability. She found that ELMs can form when a steep gradient of current exists at the plasma edge, and these instabilities can extinguish themselves by disrupting their own source.
Researchers have discovered a method to quickly shut down instabilities in fusion devices by injecting highly energetic particles, which can cause fusion reactions to fizzle out. This technique could prove useful for the international fusion facility ITER and demonstrate the ability to confine a burning plasma.
Engineers at PPPL designed and delivered new pole shields to protect magnets in neutral beam injectors, increasing their lifespan. The redesigned parts will withstand higher heat loads and enable more efficient fusion reactions.
Physicist Mario Podestà develops a new subprogram to simulate particle motion in fusion plasmas, enabling faster and more accurate predictions. The improved code can now approximate the behavior of highly energetic atomic nuclei, crucial for achieving high-performance tokamaks like ITER.
Physicists at Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory have modeled how recycled neutral atoms enhance turbulence driven by the ion temperature gradient, cooling plasma and reducing rotation rates. The results could lead to improved understanding of plasma performance in future tokamaks and international fusion facilities like ITER.
Researchers generate high-energy shock waves in a laboratory setting, simulating the formation of supersonic shock waves that propel cosmic rays and particles. This breakthrough enables new studies on the acceleration of astrophysical particles and complements present remote sensing observations.
A new machine learning technique can help identify plasma behavior that precedes disruptions in tokamaks, allowing scientists to steer the plasma towards stability. By analyzing past experiments and predicting disruption precursors, researchers can implement a system to monitor the plasma for signs of instability.
Researchers at PPPL successfully demonstrated a hot plasma edge in a fusion facility by coating tokamak walls with lithium. The findings show that high-edge temperatures and constant temperature profiles can be achieved, which is crucial for improving plasma performance and efficiency.
The US-China collaboration has made excellent progress in using lithium to control ultra-hot plasma in fusion reactions. The use of lithium powder, granules, and liquid form has shown promising results in eliminating instabilities and improving energy confinement.
Researchers found that lithium oxide retains hydrogen isotopes like pure lithium, improving plasma performance in fusion devices. The study suggests that high-purity lithium may not be necessary for optimal results.
Physicists at PPPL have simulated the spontaneous transition of turbulence at the plasma edge to H-mode using a first-principles-based model. The simulation reveals that both turbulence-generated and non-turbulent sheared flows contribute to the bifurcation, providing the physics-basis for successful tokamak operation.
Physicists at Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory have developed a new computer model of plasma stability in tokamaks, which could help scientists predict and avoid disruptions. The new model simplifies the physics involved and predicts conditions that can contain high-pressure plasmas.
Researchers investigate how wall materials and structures impact secondary electron emission, which can affect plasma confinement and efficiency. They find that lithium oxide linings release more secondary electrons than other materials, highlighting the need to account for reactivity in fusion models.
Researchers at PPPL and General Atomics simulated a self-organized flow of superhot plasma that fuels fusion reactions. The findings show that sufficient heating can drive instabilities leading to plasma rotation, which may be used to improve fusion device performance. High-energy beams traditionally injected into the plasma are replac...
Researchers at PPPL have discovered a source of fast magnetic reconnection in plasma, which could lead to more accurate predictions of damaging space weather and improved fusion experiments. The finding shows how electron pressure accelerates the process, balancing electric current and preventing halting the reconnection process.
Physicists have developed a new feedback controller to control fusion plasma energy and rotation. The algorithm uses sensors, algorithms, and actuators to modify the plasma's rotation profile and stored energy.
Physicist Igor Kaganovich and collaborators discovered the physics driving plasma etching, a technique powering electronic devices. The research found that electrically charged gas plasma enhances etching efficiency by creating strong plasma waves.
A PPPL physicist has discovered that motion in nearby magnetic fields can trigger magnetic reconnection, a process releasing energy when magnetic field lines snap together. This research may aid fusion reactions and better understand solar phenomena.
Scientists develop rigorous new method for modeling the accretion disk that feeds the supermassive black hole at the center of the Milky Way galaxy. This approach replaces traditional formulas with a kinetic method to trace collisionless particles, improving understanding of plasma behavior and radiative efficiency.
Scientists have developed a new theoretical framework to improve the stability and intensity of particle accelerator beams. The theory couples vertical and horizontal motions of particles, providing important tools for designing high-intensity beam manipulations.
Researchers provide a major perspective on four key problems in magnetic reconnection, including the rate problem, trigger problem, energetics problem, and interplay of scales problem. The study advances understanding of these puzzles using data from satellite sightings, laboratory experiments, and computer simulations.
The W7-X stellarator in Germany has produced high-quality magnetic fields consistent with its complex design, achieving an error rate of less than one part in 100,000. This finding could be a key step toward verifying the feasibility of stellarators as models for future fusion reactors.
Researchers at PPPL and Princeton University proposed a groundbreaking solution to the mystery of fast magnetic reconnection. They developed a detailed theory for the mechanism leading to rapid reconnection, known as plasmoid instability, which breaks up plasma current sheets into small magnetic islands.
Physicists at PPPL have developed a real-time velocity diagnostic that measures plasma velocity in four locations within the National Spherical Torus Experiment-Upgrade. This device enables rapid calculations of how the velocity profile of ions evolves over time, which is crucial for optimizing plasma stability and fusion reactions.
Goldston's paper presented a new model for estimating scrape-off layer width, which depends on plasma drift rate across closed surfaces, and has been largely confirmed by experiments worldwide.
Researchers presented initial results from the upgraded NSTX-U facility, doubling magnetic field strength and plasma current. Key findings include surpassing predecessor's maximum magnetic field strength and reducing turbulence through heating power.
A three-year, $3.3 million collaboration will study methods of predicting and avoiding disruptions on KSTAR, a long-pulse tokamak. The research aims to develop techniques for characterizing, forecasting, and avoiding events that can halt fusion reactions and damage tokamaks.
Researchers propose spherical tokamaks as a design for future fusion devices, offering a compact and low-cost solution for harnessing fusion energy. The upgraded NSTX-U and MAST facilities will provide crucial data for developing commercial fusion plants.
A Fusion Nuclear Science Facility (FNSF) would test materials and generate fusion fuel, paving the way for a pilot plant that demonstrates net energy production. Spherical tokamaks' design produces high-pressure plasmas with relatively low magnetic fields.
Researchers aim to develop a recipe for solving runaway electron problems using simulations and data from worldwide experiments. The Simulation Center for Runaway Electron Avoidance and Mitigation will explore causes and solutions for relativistic runaway electrons traveling at nearly the speed of light.
Researchers from PPPL found that applying magnetic fields can control Alfvén waves and reduce fast-ion escape, leading to higher temperatures and more efficient fusion processes. This breakthrough could help improve tokamak performance.
The PPPL will optimize lithium delivery systems for long-pulse plasmas on the Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak (EAST) in China. The goal is to protect plasma-facing components and prevent impurities from halting fusion reactions.