Articles tagged with Plasma
Physicists Dr. Nate Ferraro and Dr. Sam Lazerson of PPPL have won Early Career Research awards to develop better designs for doughnut-shaped tokamaks and twisty stellarators, aiming to produce virtually inexhaustible fusion power. They will focus on minimizing disruptions and confining energetic particles in stellarators.
Researchers developed a new model to control chaos in particle accelerators, enhancing efficiency and reducing initial velocity requirements. The transport barrier mechanism, inspired by tokamaks, shows promising results in simulations.
Researchers have developed a new model that challenges long-held assumptions about magnetic islands in fusion plasas. The study found that turbulence can penetrate into islands and plasma flow across them can be strongly sheared, allowing for sustained plasma confinement despite island growth.
Researchers use X-ray laser to heat water from room temperature to 100,000 degrees Celsius in less than a tenth of a picosecond, producing an exotic state of matter. This study has significant implications for understanding the properties of water and its behavior under extreme conditions.
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.
Physicists develop new method for compressing non-neutral plasma to achieve ten-fold reduction in antiproton cloud radius. The study enhances low-energy antimatter research and charged particle traps.
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.
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.
Researchers at KAIST identified the basic principle of electric wind in plasma, a phenomenon that can create air movement without mechanical movement. The team found that space charge drift following streamer propagation is the main cause of electric wind, with electrons playing a key role in certain plasmas.
A Brazilian researcher's study has elucidated the conditions necessary for self-sustaining nuclear fusion in tokamaks. The findings provide crucial information for the successful operation of ITER, a fusion reactor prototype designed to reproduce the sun's energy generation process.
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 add boron to gas mixture to create nanostructured diamond film with increased grain size, exhibiting diamond-like properties. The addition of boron also changes the film's electrical properties, offering new control for various applications.
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.
Researchers at HZDR develop a method to control the number of electrons fed into the process, achieving ideal conditions for improved beam quality. This leads to peak currents of up to 150 kiloamperes, exceeding modern large-scale research accelerators.
Claudia Ratti receives $475,000 NSF CAREER award to study quark-gluon plasma state and promote STEM education.
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.
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.
A new study by Huazhong University of Science and Technology finds that maximizing energy density within the capillary chamber yields the longest plasma jet. Varying capillary dimensions, cathode diameter, and cathode tip length are key factors in achieving optimal performance.
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.
A new study uses a hydrodynamic model to predict specific patterns in hadrons' angular distribution, shedding light on the structure and dynamics of quark-gluon plasmas. The results suggest that the plasma is not a gas but a liquid with extremely low viscosity.
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 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 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 from Pohang University of Science and Technology have discovered solitary perturbations (SP) structures that correlate with pedestal collapse in magnetized toroidal plasma. This finding provides new insights into the mechanisms behind reliable nuclear fusion.
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.
Researchers have discovered a key link between plasma flow and turbulent transport in toroidal fusion plasmas. This understanding has led to improved confinement regimes and reduced the prospects of fusion.
Researchers discovered a new discharge phenomenon, apokamp, occurring off the plasma arc in air at normal atmospheric pressure. The apokamp consists of ionisation waves - plasma bullets - moving with high velocity and may help explain blue jet phenomenon identified in 1994.
Researchers at Nagoya University developed a cold plasma-activated Ringer's solution that exhibits anti-tumor effects, attributed to the lactate component. The solution triggers cell death through increased intracellular hydrogen peroxide levels, suggesting a potential specific tumor therapy.
A team of researchers at UNIST has discovered the underlying physics of suppressing ELMs using magnetic perturbation. The study, published in Physical Review Letters, confirms that ELMs can be weakened by losing energy through interaction with turbulence induced by MP.
Researchers have developed a novel liquid metal shower divertor system that can withstand extremely high heat loads and efficiently evacuate plasma as neutral gases. The new design features a fine jet stream of liquid metal, which forms a strong wall to block plasma and facilitate effective evacuation.
Researchers developed a hybrid simulation program to investigate plasma oscillation and high-energy particle interaction. The program accurately reproduces experimental data, significantly improving the prediction accuracy of high-energy alpha particle distribution in fusion reactor core plasma.
Scientists observe localized plasma deformation, known as a 'tongue', in the LHD, confirming Artsimovich's prediction. The discovery offers insights into maintaining high-temperature and high-density plasmas for fusion research.
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.
Researchers at General Atomics have developed a new tool for controlling fusion plasmas, allowing for separate and continuous specification of power and torque. This breakthrough has the potential to improve magnetic fusion in machines worldwide.
Scientists at DIII-D National Fusion Facility have successfully reproduced radiation patterns in simulations, providing a breakthrough in fusion research. By eliminating molecular physics and accurately accounting for divertor plasma parameters, researchers have made significant progress towards designing radiating exhaust solutions.
The Wendelstein 7-X (W7-X) experiment in Germany has achieved impressive initial plasma results, pushing the boundaries of magnetic confinement. The device uses a unique twist design to optimize plasma confinement on both individual-particle and macroscopic scales.
Researchers have successfully simulated and observed the formation of plasmoids in a tokamak chamber, enabling plasma startup without solenoids. This breakthrough enables future commercial fusion power plants to operate more efficiently.
Researchers have created a 'stability map' to track fusion plasma rotation and collisionality in real-time. This allows for the detection of potential instability and control over the plasma, potentially avoiding disruption of fusion reactions.
Researchers at PPPL found that mean flow energy is never more than 1% of turbulent energy in H-mode, ruling out the predator-prey model. This result deepens the mystery of H-mode, but may refocus efforts on other contenders for understanding its physics.
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.
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.
A Princeton graduate student has developed a program that helps stabilize fusion plasmas, reducing instabilities that decrease tokamak efficiency. The new method uses feedback from sensors for real-time control of plasma rotation and fuels fusion reactions.
The study proposes a technique to increase the number of electrons trapped in the wake of the laser pulse, improving beam quality. This could lead to better technology for future accelerators and bring high energy physics experiments to more labs and universities.
Researchers at PPPL gained insights into how turbulence affects heat leakage in fusion plasmas, finding a steep density gradient reduces electron turbulence and heat loss. This could lead to more efficient fusion reactors like ITER, reducing heat leakage.
The team demonstrated that a laser pulse can accelerate an electron beam and couple it to a second laser plasma accelerator, achieving higher energy. The solution used two different kinds of LPA, including a discharge capillary and a jet of supersonic gas, and developed a disposable mirror system for staging.
Scientists use real-time observations and computer simulations to analyze the solar corona's dynamic system. The sun's magnetic field drives space weather on Earth and affects interplanetary radiation. Understanding its structure is crucial for studying space throughout the solar system.
Researchers at DOE's Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory have modeled new sources of turbulence in spherical tokamaks, a potential game-changer for fusion energy. The findings suggest that keeping non-uniform plasma flows within an optimized level and reducing trapped electron collisions could improve plasma confinement.
A US-China fusion research team has made a significant breakthrough by moving plasma closer to the wall, increasing power and efficiency of magnetic fusion energy. This achievement paves the way for future development of tokamaks like ITER, which is currently under construction in France.
Researchers at National Institute for Fusion Science have discovered a new confinement state inside a magnetic island, essential for improving fusion reactor plasma confinement. This breakthrough was achieved through the 'momentary heating propagation method' and has implications for future fusion research.
Researchers are exploring plasma-based treatments for fungal infections, as well as using plasmas to extend the shelf life of seafood. Additionally, advancements in plasma propulsion technology are being made for small spacecraft, offering potential solutions for satellite thrusters.
Researchers at Vanderbilt University have successfully created tiny drops of quark-gluon plasma using the Large Hadron Collider, exhibiting coherent behavior and flowing properties similar to those of liquids. The findings shed new light on the formation process of these primordial droplets.
Researchers created the smallest quark-gluon plasma in proton-lead collisions, contradicting previous expectations. This discovery sheds new light on high-energy physics and helps define the conditions needed for quark-gluon plasma existence.
Researchers at SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory have developed a new method to accelerate positrons using plasma wakefield acceleration. This breakthrough could lead to the construction of smaller and more efficient electron-positron colliders, which would help unravel the fundamental building blocks of nature.