Articles tagged with Plasma Physics
A new approach could overcome major barriers to practical fusion energy production by adjusting fuel properties using spin polarization. This method could increase tritium burn efficiency, reducing the amount needed and lowering operating costs.
Scientists at DOE's Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory perfect processes for growing diamond at lower temperatures without sacrificing quality. The breakthrough could enable the implementation of diamond in silicon-based manufacturing, opening a door for advanced electronics and sensors.
A team led by Sayak Bose has made significant progress in understanding the underlying heating mechanism of coronal holes. They found that reflected plasma waves can cause turbulence and heat coronal holes, providing the first experimental verification of Alfvén wave reflection.
Researchers have developed new AI models for plasma heating that can predict plasma behavior more accurately than existing numerical codes. The models use machine learning to analyze data generated by a computer code, enabling faster simulations without compromising accuracy.
Researchers at PPPL have found that adding boron powder to a tokamak's plasma can shield the wall from tungsten atoms, preventing cooling and sustaining fusion reactions. Computer modeling suggests the powder may only need to be sprinkled from one location for effective distribution.
The SMall Aspect Ratio Tokamak (SMART) is a compact spherical tokamak that benefits from PPPL computer codes and expertise in magnetics and sensor systems. Negative triangularity is expected to offer enhanced performance by suppressing instabilities and preventing damage to the tokamak wall.
A systematic review by PPPL researchers found that most journal articles on machine learning for solving fluid-related PDEs are biased towards machine learning, with negative results underreported. The authors propose rules to make fair comparisons and argue that cultural changes are needed to address systemic problems.
Scientists have discovered how the Sun's supersonic solar wind receives energy, thanks to a lucky alignment of NASA and ESA spacecraft. The fastest solar winds are powered by magnetic switchbacks, which deposit enough energy to account for heating and acceleration in the solar wind.
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.
Scientists at PPPL envision a hot region with flowing liquid metal that protects the inside of the tokamak from intense heat. The new simulations reflect additional information, including collisions between neutral particles, and determine the best location for the lithium vapor cave is near the bottom of the tokamak by the center stack.
Scientists at Lehigh University are using mayonnaise to study Rayleigh-Taylor instability and its transition to a plastic regime. The researchers aim to better understand the physics of nuclear fusion through this unconventional approach.
Scientists at DOE's Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory and Kyushu University in Japan have proposed a design for a compact, spherical fusion pilot plant that heats plasma using only microwaves. The new approach eliminates ohmic heating, freeing up space and potentially making the vessel cheaper to build.
Researchers have obtained a detailed spatial distribution of color and a hyperspectral image of the aurora borealis for the first time, revealing new insights into energy transport and electron interactions. The observations will contribute to advancing auroral research and understanding the mechanism of auroral emission.
Scientists have developed a machine learning program that can identify blobs of plasma in outer space known as plasmoids. The program will analyze data from NASA's Magnetospheric Multiscale (MMS) mission to better understand magnetic reconnection and its effects on the electrical grid.
Scientists at National Institutes of Natural Sciences found that adjusting the anisotropic nature of energetic ions can regulate plasma inflow and outflow rates. This discovery has significant implications for fusion reactor performance, downsizing, and energy output.
Researchers at PPPL have found a new mechanism that reduces the risk of damage to tokamak vessels by spreading exhaust heat across a larger area. The discovery challenges previous assumptions about plasma turbulence and its impact on the vessel's performance.
Researchers have found that turbulence is most suppressed at a certain density in fusion plasmas, with transitions occurring below and above this point. Simulations revealed that ion-temperature gradient, pressure gradient, and plasma resistivity cause turbulence changes around the transition density.
A new model refines understanding of plasma edge stability, impacting commercial fusion power. The 'apple' shape tokamaks show greater stability than traditional donut-shaped ones.
Researchers found that a photon's polarization is topological, meaning it doesn't change as it moves through materials and environments. This property can help design better light beams for heating and measuring plasma, which could increase fusion efficiency.
University of Sydney researchers have developed a chemical process using plasma that could create sustainable jet fuel from methane gas emitted from landfills. This process has the potential to eliminate the need for traditional and sustainable jet fuels, which add further emissions into the atmosphere. By capturing almost the exact co...
Scientists at Zap Energy have achieved a major breakthrough in fusion technology, creating a plasma with electron temperatures of up to 37 million degrees Celsius. The company's sheared-flow-stabilized Z pinch device far exceeds the previous record and offers a promising path to commercial fusion energy.
Scientists at Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory successfully simulate a novel combination method for managing fusion plasma. By combining electron cyclotron current drive (ECCD) and resonant magnetic perturbations (RMP), researchers can create a more stable plasma edge, reducing the amount of current required to generate RMPs.
Researchers pioneer technique to control polaritons, unlocking potential for next-generation materials and surpassing performance limitations of optical displays. The breakthrough enables stable generation of polariton particles with enhanced brightness and color control.
The American Physical Society's 2024 April meeting will feature approximately 1,700 presentations on various physics topics. The scientific program includes a public lecture on detecting gravitational waves with LISA and a special symposium on big questions for the next decade.
Four PPPL researchers, Villafana, Israeli, Majeski, and Ochs, featured in the Physics of Plasmas Early Career Collection, highlighting their notable contributions to the field. The collection aims to promote younger scientists' work, balance their smaller networks, and help build momentum for research.
The Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory has opened a new Quantum Diamond Lab to study plasma processes for creating diamond material with unique properties. Scientists aim to harness this material for quantum computing, secure communication, and precise measurements, enabling breakthroughs in fields like medicine and energy.
A Princeton University team developed an AI model that can forecast potential plasma instabilities up to 300 milliseconds in advance, allowing for real-time adjustments to avoid reaction-ending escapes. The model uses past experimental data and demonstrates a promising approach to solving a broad range of plasma instabilities.
Researchers successfully conduct laboratory studies on whistler mode chorus emission using the RT-1 device, a magnetically levitated superconducting coil. The findings reveal that high-temperature electrons drive the generation of chorus emission, while increasing plasma density suppresses its occurrence.
JET's final deuterium-tritium experiments demonstrated high fusion power consistently produced for 5 seconds, setting a world-record of 69 megajoules using 0.2 milligrams of fuel. The facility has reliably created fusion plasmas with the same fuel mixture as commercial fusion energy powerplants.
Researchers led by Bruno Arsioli have observed a non-uniform distribution of high-energy photons in the Sun's gamma-ray emissions, with polar regions emitting more radiation than expected. This finding suggests a possible link between cosmic rays and the solar magnetic field, which could inform space weather forecasts.
Researchers from the University of Rochester's Laboratory for Laser Energetics demonstrated an effective 'spark plug' for direct-drive methods of inertial confinement fusion (ICF), achieving a plasma hot enough to initiate fusion reactions. The successful experiments use the OMEGA laser system, with the goal of eventually producing fus...
A new control system optimizes predictive models with real-time observations, predicting fusion plasma behavior with high accuracy. This approach enables adaptive predictive control in uncertain conditions, laying the foundation for fusion reactor control.
Bielefeld University's four Consolidator Grant recipients will explore health effects of passive commuting, social environment influence on health and mortality, and universe phase transitions. The grants total more than 8 million euros, with projects starting in 2024.
Researchers analyzed proton-proton collisions to understand the hadronization process, a phenomenon critical to our understanding of physical reality. The study found that quark-gluon plasma can be produced in single proton collisions and that correlations between particles are influenced by angles with respect to the beam axis.
The Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory has been awarded $5 million to lead an Energy Earthshot Research Center focused on producing clean hydrogen. The center aims to reduce the cost of hydrogen by 80% and could lead to a paradigm shift in clean hydrogen production.
Physicists from the Polish Academy of Sciences develop new theoretical tools to study collisions at extreme energies. The phenomenon is fast and involves small particles that cannot be observed directly, requiring
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 demonstrated a 300-fold increase in electron-phonon coupling strength by reducing dimensionality, paving the way for novel engineering opportunities. The enhancement was attributed to non-local nature of coupling in synthetic SRO/STO superlattices.
Scientists at Aalto University and MPS used petascale supercomputers to simulate the Sun's magnetic field, finding evidence for a small-scale dynamo that challenges conventional understanding. This discovery could lead to improved predictions of major solar events, providing vital extra time for preparation.
A two-day workshop hosted by PPPL discussed the risks and benefits of fusion energy, including concerns about nuclear proliferation and energy justice. Experts emphasized the need for open discussion and regulation to ensure safe and equitable deployment of fusion power.
A new mathematical model predicts turbulence and heat transport in fusion plasmas with high accuracy, approximately 1,500 times faster than conventional large-scale nonlinear calculations. This breakthrough accelerates fusion research and expands the range of applicability.
A team of Japanese researchers discovered that adding neon to a hydrogen ice pellet can cool the plasma more effectively, reducing pressure and preventing ejection. This breakthrough contributes to establishing plasma control technologies for future fusion reactors.
Lehigh University has received nearly $1.75 million in funding from the US Department of Energy to support fusion energy research, specifically for ITER's long-pulse scenarios. The project aims to prepare ITER for operation and address critical research questions related to plasma control.
A University of South Australia physicist has solved the long-standing mystery of lightning's zig-zag pattern and dark electric column. The breakthrough explains how singlet-delta metastable oxygen molecules create these steps.
The Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL) has received over $12 million in funding from the US Department of Energy to speed up the development of a pilot plant powered by fusion energy. This initiative aims to accelerate the production of clean and abundant electricity, a crucial step towards mitigating climate change.
Researchers have developed a high-performance laser system capable of measuring electron temperature and density in plasma at a world record speed of 20,000 times per second. This breakthrough enables detailed measurements of transient phenomena in plasmas, crucial for understanding and controlling fusion power generation.
Researchers at National Institutes of Natural Sciences observe plasma heating due to electromagnetic waves for the first time. They used a new measurement system to capture ultrahigh-speed data, revealing that Landau damping transfers energy from high-energy particles to electromagnetic waves, which then heat the plasma.
Researchers at Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory have successfully applied boron powder to tungsten components in tokamaks, improving plasma confinement and reducing the risk of edge-localized modes. The innovative approach uses a PPPL-developed powder dropper to deposit boron coatings while minimizing disruptions to the magnetic field.
Researchers have discovered that resistivity can cause instabilities in plasma edge, making it more stable when included in models. The study aims to design systems for future fusion facilities with improved plasma stability.
Asteroids like Bennu and Ryugu appear rough due to the loss of fine-grained regolith caused by tiny space dust grains hopping around on their surfaces. This process may help small asteroids migrate faster through space, affecting their orbits.
Scientists have refined the use of magnetic fields to improve tokamak performance by suppressing instabilities called ELMs. The new technique allows plasma to operate in H-mode for longer periods, increasing efficiency and reducing the risk of damage to internal parts.
Researchers at PPPL have discovered that adding tungsten to plasma fuel pellets improves the compression of fuel, increasing fusion yield. The study uses krypton gas to measure X-rays emitted by the pellets, providing new insights into the fusion process.
Researchers at NIFS have made a groundbreaking discovery in fusion plasmas, finding that turbulence moves faster than heat. This characteristic allows for predictive control of plasma temperature, paving the way for real-time manipulation. The study used advanced instruments to measure turbulent behavior with unprecedented accuracy.
Researchers discovered a stronger flow in the plasma core surrounding the thermal insulation layer in deuterium plasmas, leading to better thermal insulation. This finding could improve future fusion power plants using deuterium and tritium as fuels.
Researchers have designed simpler magnets for twisty stellarator facilities, which could aid the development of a stellarator power plant. The new magnets have straighter sections than before while preserving their strength and accuracy.
Researchers at Dartmouth College have developed a new theoretical description of how the Hall effect determines the efficiency of magnetic reconnection. The study reveals that the Hall effect suppresses energy conversion from magnetic fields to plasma particles, enabling rapid energy release and explosive magnetic explosions in space.
Researchers have discovered that magnetic fluctuations can reduce heat load on fusion devices by propagating turbulence. This breakthrough enables a new method for controlling turbulence and maintaining high central temperatures in the plasma.
A POSTECH research team has developed a platform that can control and measure the properties of solid materials with light. This breakthrough enables the manipulation of quantum states in solids, which can be effectively used in quantum systems.
Researchers at Toyohashi University of Technology developed an ultra-high-rate coating technology for functional hard carbon films using vacuum plasma. The new method achieved a film deposition rate exceeding one order of magnitude faster than existing technologies while maintaining the same degree of film quality.
Scientists at Japan's National Institute for Fusion Science discovered a self-sustained mechanism that controls the heat load on the divertor in a fusion reactor. By analyzing the magnetic island and plasma current mirror, they found a competition between two processes that can be described by a biological predator-prey model, which su...