Plasmas and Fusion Research
A number of experimental research programs are underway that concern basic topics of relevance to advanced accelerators, z-pinches, magnetic confinement fusion, and inertial confinement fusion.
One such program NERS faculty and students are researching is the fundamental problem of controlled thermonuclear fusion, the process which generates energy in the sun and stars. If fusion energy is achieved, water could be used as fuel, providing an almost unlimited supply of energy for humanity. The problem is to confine certain nuclei at very high temperatures and pressures until they fuse, releasing energy. The incredible potential payoff has inspired enormous international research programs to understand the physics of hot ionized gases known as plasmas. This research has led to new applications of plasmas in accelerators, materials, and light sources.
A few examples of research follow:
High Power Microwave Sources Driven by Long-Pulse, Intense, Relativistic, Electron Beams
High Power Microwave Sources Driven by Long-Pulse, Intense, Relativistic, Electron Beams Experiments are being conducted to generate high power (MW to GW) microwaves from intense, relativistic electron beams. Currently under investigation is the relativistic magnetron.
Plasma Propulsion
Plasmas and electric propulsion provide the only means for spacecraft to reach the outer planets. UM research utilizes microwave plasmas to generate ions and electrons needed for such advanced plasma rockets. Other concepts such as the magnetically-insulated inertial confinement fusion and the Gasdynamic Magnetic Mirror Machine are investigated for space propulsion and deep space missions.
Laser Wakefield Electron Accelerators
Laser accelerators can accelerate electrons to an energy of one billion electron volts in a distance of less than on centimeter, which is ten-thousand-times shorter than can be obtained by conventional means. Terrawatt lasers with pulselengths measured in femtoseconds are utilized to accelerate electrons or ions in plasma.
Z-pinch X-ray Sources
Intense x-ray pulses from wire-array z-pinches have successfully generated nuclear fusion neutrons at Sandia National Labs. NERS faculty and students work with Sandia scientists on a wire array z-pinch at UM that is being upgraded to operate at a plasma current of 1 million Amperes.
Plasma-Assisted Materials Processing
Experiments are being conducted to investigate the physical and chemical processes involved in the manufacturing of integrated circuits using a radio frequency (RF) Parallel Plate GEC Reference Reactor.
Theoretical Plasma Physics
In addition to the theoretical aspects on all of the above, the following areas are actively pursued: electrical breakdown and discharge, heating phenomenology, quantum vacuum nanoelectronics, high brightness electron sources, and pulsed-power systems.
Plasmas and Fusion Faculty
Ronald M. Gilgenbach, Y.Y. Lau, John E. Foster, Karl Krushelnick
Plasmas and Fusion Labs:
