Researchers at EAST have successfully accessed a theorized 'density-free regime' for fusion plasmas, achieving stable operation at densities beyond conventional limits. This breakthrough provides new insights into overcoming one of the most persistent physical obstacles on the path toward nuclear fusion ignition.
Zap Energy's FuZE-3 device has reached electron pressures of up to 830 MPa, or 1.6 GPa total, in a sheared-flow-stabilized Z pinch, a major milestone on the path to scientific energy gain. The device achieves this high pressure through independent control of plasma acceleration and compression.
Arati Dasgupta, a leading atomic and plasma physicist at NRL, has been elevated to IEEE Fellow for her groundbreaking research in high-energy density plasmas, atomic physics, and radiation materials. Her work has significantly advanced our understanding of extreme environments and their applications.
A team of researchers discovered supra-thermal DT ions beyond Maxwellian distributions in ICF burning plasmas. The new hybrid model predicts a ~10 ps ignition moment promotion, enhanced alpha particle densities at the hotspot center, and the presence of supra-thermal D ions below 34 keV.
Researchers discovered supra-thermal DT ions beyond Maxwellian distributions in burning plasmas of inertial confinement fusion. The findings, achieved through innovative modeling and simulations, challenge existing models and offer new insights into the physics of these extreme conditions.
The Crab Pulsar features a unique zebra pattern due to diffraction in the electromagnetic pulses caused by its dense plasma. Researchers have proposed various emission mechanisms, but none have convincingly explained the observed patterns until now.
Scientists at the DOE's Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory have directly observed magneto-Rayleigh Taylor instabilities in plasma, which could aid in understanding how black holes produce vast intergalactic jets. The observation confirms that magnetic fields play a crucial role in forming these jets.
Researchers at the University of Liverpool have achieved a significant milestone in converting carbon dioxide into valuable fuels and chemicals. They report a pioneering plasma-catalytic process for the hydrogenation of CO2 to methanol at room temperature and atmospheric pressure, achieving impressive selectivity rates.
Researchers at Lehigh University use mayonnaise to simulate the phases of Rayleigh-Taylor instability in nuclear fusion, which could inform the design of future inertial confinement fusion processes. The team found that understanding the transition between elastic and stable plastic phases is critical for controlling the instability.
The team determined the maximum density of neutral particles beyond the edge of a plasma that still allows for a flat-edge temperature profile, enabling stable fusion. They found that going beyond this threshold can lead to instabilities and a peaked temperature profile.
Researchers discovered a new class of plasma oscillations that can exhibit extraordinary features, enabling innovative advancements in particle acceleration and fusion. This finding has significant implications for achieving clean-burning commercial fusion energy.
A study reveals that Earth's ionospheric plasma drives geomagnetic storms, disrupting radio signals and GPS. The research helps predict storm impact and contributes to understanding space weather.
Researchers discovered a massive structure, Hoʻoleilana, with a diameter of one billion light years, which is larger than predicted by the Big Bang theory. The bubble-like structure encompasses several well-known galaxy clusters and voids, including the Boötes Supercluster.
A team at Osaka University has simulated photon-photon collisions to produce electron-positron pairs, paving the way for experimental confirmation of quantum physics theories. The simulation uses ultra-intense laser pulses and demonstrates the feasibility of creating matter solely from light.
Researchers at Shibaura Institute of Technology have developed a faster way to synthesize CoSn(OH)6, a powerful catalyst required for high-energy lithium–air batteries. The new method uses solution plasma-based synthesis and achieves highly crystalline CSO crystals with improved catalytic properties.
Researchers developed Plasma-grating induced breakdown spectroscopy (GIBS) and Multidimensional plasma grating induced breakdown spectroscopy (MIBS) techniques to overcome LIBS limitations. These novel methods exhibit heightened sensitivity and accuracy in detection, particularly for solution detection.
Researchers at Kyoto University have successfully created stable plasmas using microwaves, a key step towards harnessing nuclear fusion's massive energy potential. The team identified three crucial steps in plasma production and used Heliotron J to generate the dense plasmas.
Scientists study flow patterns from heavy-ion collisions to understand fluctuations in particle behavior, aiming to calculate the properties of quark-gluon plasma. The results point to initial state influences as the primary trigger for these fluctuations, with collision energy and nucleus size also playing a role.
A study by Prof. Weiwei Liu's group reveals a negative correlation between plasma density and THz radiation intensity, with maximum radiation at minimum plasma density. The researchers attribute this to the electron drifting velocity, which dominates THz pulse generation.
A new study proposes a mathematical tool to understand the fractal structure of quark-gluon plasma, which is formed in high-energy collisions. The fractal structure explains some phenomena seen in these collisions, including particle momentum distributions that follow Tsallis statistics.
Electrons in Earth's radiation belt can be accelerated to ultra-relativistic energies when plasma density is extremely low, enabling them to surf on plasma waves and take energy from them. This two-stage acceleration process may also occur in other astrophysical objects.
Plasma-grating-induced breakdown spectroscopy (GIBS) overcomes the drawbacks of traditional LIBS techniques, achieving a signal intensity enhancement of more than three times. This technique utilizes a plasma grating to improve measurement stability and sensitivity.
Researchers at Max-Planck-Institut für Plasmaphysik (IPP) have successfully simulated plasma edge instabilities in tokamaks, revealing trigger and course of instability. The simulation matches experimentally observed values, providing a crucial step towards predicting and avoiding ELM instabilities in future fusion devices.
The LTX-β upgrade successfully demonstrates the ability of liquid lithium to hold onto stray particles, improving plasma temperature profiles and expanding plasma volume for fusion. The device aims to test whether coating all plasma-facing walls with lithium can enhance plasma confinement and increase temperature.
Researchers confirm Voyager 2's entry into interstellar space with a plasma density jump detected by an Iowa-led instrument. The spacecraft crossed into the ISM at a distance of over 11 billion miles from the sun, providing valuable clues to the structure of the heliosphere.
Researchers at Max-Planck-Institut für Plasmaphysik achieved a record-breaking fusion product with Wendelstein 7-X, lasting up to 26 seconds and reaching temperatures of 40 million degrees. The device's optimized magnetic field geometry also demonstrated improved thermal insulation and low bootstrap current.
A team of scientists from Lobachevsky University, the Institute of Applied Physics and Chalmers University developed a new software tool called PICADOR for simulating ultra-dense electron-positron plasmas. The simulations showed that the plasma density can exceed 10^26 particles per cubic centimeter under certain conditions.
Japanese researchers at Osaka University propose that substances heated by high-power lasers produce an ultrahigh pressure plasma state comparable to stellar centers. The surface tension of this plasma can push back light, and the researchers derive a limit density for laser-induced hole boring.
Researchers used a fluid model of plasma turbulence to study heating plasma in a tokamak, revealing impacts of its turbulent behavior, density and temperature gradients. The findings showed that heating electrons caused changes in density gradients within the plasma.
Researchers at Colorado State University have successfully recreated the extreme conditions found in stars using compact lasers and ultra-short pulses irradiating nanowires. The experiment achieved pressures surpassing those in the center of our sun, opening a path to studying high-energy density physics.
After a successful first round of experiments, Wendelstein 7-X is upgrading to achieve higher heating powers and longer plasma pulses. The device has already achieved pulse lengths of six seconds and temperatures of 100 million degrees Celsius.
The PPPL team will investigate the formation and growth of magnetic fields using the Titan Cray XK7 supercomputer, with the goal of understanding processes like Weibel instabilities and explosive magnetic reconnection. The research will also inform experiments at the National Ignition Facility.
Researchers at National Institute of Fusion Science have developed a dispersion interferometer to measure electron density in atmospheric pressure low-temperature plasma with high accuracy. This breakthrough enables precise control over plasma parameters, leading to optimal plasmas for medicine and biology applications.
A Queen's University PhD student is conducting the first systematic population study of magnetosphere-host stars, finding that plasma density within all such magnetospheres is far lower than predicted. This suggests that plasma might be escaping gradually, maintaining magnetospheres in an essentially steady state.
Researchers at NIFS and Kyushu University have discovered a new mechanism that stops plasma flow when the magnetic flux surface is disturbed. This observation is significant for nuclear fusion research and has implications for understanding plasma behavior in the universe.
A team of researchers, including Dr. John Pasley, discovered that plasma flowing around stars could create a series of pressure pulses generating sound waves. The frequency was too high for any mammal to hear, making it impossible for humans to detect.
Researchers at Ghent University have developed a simplified model to measure the absolute density of OH radicals in plasma, improving the accuracy of radical treatment for medical applications. This breakthrough could stimulate tissue regeneration and induce targeted antiseptic effects without harming neighboring tissues.
Researchers from DOE/Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory discovered a possible solution to the density limit, a major impediment to harnessing fusion. Tiny, bubble-like islands in plasmas appear to be at the root of the problem, and injecting power directly into these islands could help reach the high temperatures needed for fusion.
Researchers at MIT's Alcator C-Mod experiment have found a novel connection between spontaneous plasma rotation and global energy confinement. At low density, the two phenomena are positively correlated, but at higher densities, they become inversely related, with rotation reversal leading to saturated energy confinement.
Researchers achieve stable, high-energy electron beams by controlling wave velocity and intensity using a two-stage process. This innovation enables compact, cost-effective colliders for fundamental physics and new ultrafast light sources.
The University of Nevada, Reno researcher is studying ultra-high temperature plasmas created by the pulsed-power machine at Sandia National Laboratories. The study aims to shed light on high-energy plasma's role in astrophysics, energy production and X-rays.
The Cornell center will focus on high-energy density plasmas, developing diagnostic devices and studying extreme conditions such as plasma jets and X-pinch point imaging sources. The research aims to create hot, dense plasmas that can produce neutrons associated with nuclear fusion.
The Earth is surrounded by a complex system of electric and magnetic fields, known as the magnetosphere, which interacts with charged particles called plasma. Scientists have developed a general model to describe the density of this surrounding plasma, revealing its behavior and effects on our planet.
A research team led by Prof. Yitzhak Maron has developed a method to definitively determine how electricity flows through hot and dense plasmas. By measuring the electric current and its distribution in the plasma, scientists can gain crucial information on how to condense plasma more effectively for controlled fusion.
Researchers at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory have developed a method to coat disks and sliders with diamond-like carbon, allowing for increased storage capacity and improved durability. This breakthrough enables the creation of high-density data storage devices with reduced wear and tear.