Articles tagged with Plasma
Brian Leard, a PhD student at Lehigh University, has been awarded a prestigious DOE grant to conduct research at the DIII-D National Fusion Facility. He aims to develop simulation codes that can optimize actuator operation and improve the accuracy of plasma physics predictions.
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.
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.
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.
Researchers at Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf have developed a novel method to measure the structure of microbunched plasma-wakefield-accelerated electron beams using metal foil. This technique enables precise control over the electron bunches, leading to brighter and more stable light in free-electron lasers.
Researchers from Shinshu University developed a novel method to produce optical materials by using plasma etching on pencil lead, enabling structural colors and invisible characters. The technique could pave the way for sustainable optical materials with tailored reflectance spectra.
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.
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.
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 successfully synthesized high-purity polystyrene and polymethyl methacrylate using a novel method involving remote spark discharge treatment. This approach uses Tesla coil-generated monomer radicals as polymerization initiators, enabling external spark discharge treatment without a counter electrode.
The TIFR team developed a method to measure the temporal shape of ultrashort laser pulses using spectral interferometry, enabling precise measurement of pulse profiles at different points across the beam. This breakthrough is essential for handling increasingly powerful lasers that emit pulses and can distort optical components.
Researchers found that combining plasma p-tau217 and Aβ42/40 levels could predict early brain Aβ accumulation in people with subthreshold Aβ accumulation. These biomarkers may help screen participants for primary prevention trials.
Researchers studied Alzheimer disease blood biomarkers and found a strong association with incident all-cause dementia risk. Biomarker levels increased with age and were linked to dementia starting in midlife.
Researchers studied jet energy loss in nucleus-nucleus collisions, revealing a decrease in the jet transport coefficient with increasing medium temperature. This discovery provides a more accurate understanding of jet quenching in high-energy collisions.
The ELI ALPS facility provides state-of-the-art tools for studying ultrafast phenomena. The plasma and gas-based high-repetition-rate attosecond XUV beamlines at ELI ALPS enable researchers to advance multidisciplinary research in ultrafast phenomenon with enhanced signal-to-noise ratio.
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 team of researchers from Princeton University and the US Department of Energy's PPPL have successfully deployed machine learning methods to suppress harmful edge instabilities in fusion devices. Their approach optimizes the system's suppression response in real-time, maintaining high plasma performance without sacrificing stability.
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 developed a new treatment method using plasma irradiation to speed up bone healing. The study found that displaced fractures exhibited stronger unions than nonirradiated ones, with strength increased by 3.5 times.
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 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.
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.
Researchers at PPPL create simulation codes that can accurately predict plasma behavior, reducing the manufacturing and design cycle of silicon chips. This innovation could help the US regain a leadership role in chip industry production.
A team of scientists has developed a new treatment for chronic wounds that uses ionized gas plasma to decontaminate and heal wounds. The technology shows promise in treating diabetic foot ulcers, internal wounds, and potentially cancerous tumours.
Researchers at Tokyo Metropolitan University have developed a novel approach to create nanoscrolls with improved control over nanostructure. The team achieved tight rolls with scrolls up to five nanometers in diameter and multiple microns in length, opening doors for new applications in catalysis and photovoltaic devices.
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 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...
Researchers at the University of Córdoba designed a new plasma reactor that generates reactive species capable of degrading organic compounds and killing microorganisms in water. The new configuration expands the applicability of this type of plasmas, enabling efficient removal of high concentrations of dyes from water in minutes.
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.
Researchers at Hokkaido University have discovered that elusive neutrinos can interact with photons in ways not previously detected under extreme conditions. This finding has implications for understanding quantum mechanical interactions of fundamental particles and may help reveal details of the solar corona heating puzzle.
Researchers at Auburn University are developing a Findable, Interoperable, Accessible, and Reusable (FAIR) data platform to manage fusion device data according to FAIR standards. The project aims to accelerate fusion energy research by enabling strong collaborations and promoting diversity in the workforce.
Researchers at Kyoto University have developed a new fusion model that accurately predicts the rotational temperature of hydrogen molecules near the walls of tokamaks. This innovation enables the effective management of heat load and extends the lifetime of future fusion devices.
Using plasma circulating tumor DNA testing can expedite biomarker testing and time to treatment for patients with suspected advanced lung cancer. The study suggests that this approach may improve patient outcomes.
EPFL scientists develop a novel concept, called the active 'plasmacoustic metalayer', which can be controlled to cancel out noise. The device is more compact than conventional solutions, absorbing 100% of incoming sound intensity and offering tunable acoustic reflection over a broad bandwidth.
An international team found that volcanic eruptions can produce equatorial plasma bubbles in the ionosphere, disrupting satellite-based communications. The Tonga eruption triggered an irregular structure of electron density across the equator, delaying radio waves and degrading GPS performance.
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.
Researchers at West Virginia University are exploring iodine-based thrusters as an alternative to traditional fuel sources, aiming to reduce dependence on rare noble gases. They plan to develop diagnostic technology to measure the performance of these thrusters, paving the way for widespread use in space exploration.
At the lowest collision energy, QGP production is found to be absent, with a dramatic shift in data characteristics. Higher-order statistical analysis reveals a clear absence of QGP at low energies, providing new insights into nuclear matter phases.
Researchers from Japan propose a novel framework to describe quark-gluon plasma, which agrees better with experimental data. The new model explains the missing particle yields in low transverse momentum region by accounting for nonequilibrium corona components.
A recent study found that transfusion of COVID-19 convalescent plasma is associated with reduced mortality in immunocompromised patients. The research suggests this therapy may be beneficial for these patients, who are at high risk of severe illness and death from COVID-19.
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.
Researchers discovered that spontaneous plasma waves help neutralize ions detaching from magnetic nozzles, reducing divergence of expanding plasma beams. This breakthrough opens a new perspective on instabilities in plasmas, potentially advancing magnetic nozzle radio frequency plasma thrusters.
A team of researchers from Synchrotron SOLEIL, France, and Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), Germany, has successfully demonstrated a free-electron laser driven by plasma acceleration and seeded by additional light pulses. This achievement could lead to the development of more compact and affordable FEL systems.
Researchers at the University of Rochester used x-ray spectroscopy to study radiation transport in dense plasmas. They found that atomic energy level changes do not follow conventional quantum mechanics theories, instead conforming to a self-consistent approach based on density-functional theory.
A Tohoku University researcher has increased the performance of a high-power electrodeless plasma thruster, moving closer to deeper space explorations. The breakthrough enables more efficient use of radiofrequency power to generate thrust energy in magnetic nozzle plasma thrusters.
Researchers at Seoul National University and Princeton University have discovered a new type of self-generated plasma current in a tokamak, which could enable long-pulse fusion operations. The new current source was found to comprise up to 30% of the total plasma current and appears when turbulence is relatively low.
A research team has found a novel operating regime that prevents destructive plasma instabilities in fusion reactors, allowing for the controlled injection of particles at the plasma edge. This approach could lead to a more stable and efficient fusion reactor design.
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.
The study discovered that exposure to dinitrogen pentoxide gas can activate plant immunity and control plant diseases, depending on the type of pathogen. This novel approach utilizes reactive nitrogen species generated from plasma technology, which may contribute to the development of a sustainable agricultural system.
A plasma-based approach may one day convert carbon dioxide into oxygen and produce fuels, fertilizers on the red planet. The system could play a critical role in life-support systems and future human settlement on Mars.
The article reviews the physics and progress of THz generation from laser-induced plasmas, highlighting three scenarios in air, liquid, and solid configurations. Strong terahertz generation via plasma is discussed with challenges and future perspectives.
Researchers at PPPL developed smaller, stronger high-temperature superconducting magnets for spherical tokamaks, enabling more efficient fusion power plants. The new magnets reduce construction costs and increase performance by shrinking the size of tokamaks.
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.
Researchers at Osaka University have successfully created a miniature magnetosphere using lasers, directly measuring pure electron outflows associated with magnetic reconnection. This breakthrough sheds light on the microscopic electron dynamics driving space and astrophysical phenomena.
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.
The Department of Energy has awarded Early Career Research Program funding to three Oak Ridge National Laboratory scientists. The awardees will receive $500,000 annually for five years to support their research in fusion energy, advanced scientific computing, and biogeochemical controls on phosphorus cycling.
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.
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.