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Plasma & Fusion Science
@ The University of New Mexico |
Welcome to the Plasma & Fusion Science Home Page
Plasma
physics is concerned with the studies of hot, diffuse, ionized gases, where
the electrons are dissociated from the atomic nuclei. These plasmas can range
in temperature
from several thousands to several hundred millions of degrees. Lightning is
a natural example of a plasma. A neon light is a man-made example.
Broadly speaking, plasma physics research can be divided into two branches.
One is concerned with understanding natural plasma phenomena. Despite their
rarity on Earth, over 99% of the visible universe is in the plasma state! Earth,
with it's high density and low temperature (astrophysically speaking) is the
exception. Stars, including our Sun, are big balls of hot, dense plasma. Interstellar
space is filled with a dilute, relatively cold plasma. Supernova are the plasma
remnants of exploded stars. Closer to home, lightning, flames and the aurora
are examples of naturally occurring plasmas.
The other branch of plasma physics focuses on creating and understanding plasmas
for more practical application. Neon and fluorescent lights, lasers, and welding
torches are examples of useful man-made plasmas. One of the more far-reaching
applications is to use plasmas to create energy. This is the goal of fusion
energy research.
The sun makes energy in this way, and it potentially offers an almost limitless
energy source.
The P&FS group in the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department of
UNM studies both fusion energy and basic plasma science, and the Sun is an
ideal "mascot".
Fusion energy fuels the Sun's energy, yet many essential plasma processes – for
example how the Sun's atmosphere is heated
– are not well understood.
Current Research @ UNM
Plasma research at the University of New Mexico is an active and vibrant field.
Our research interests in the P&FS group can be loosely classified into the three
major
topics
listed
below.
However,
there is significant overlap and interaction between the groups.
-
Basic Plasma Physics
Basic plasma physics research focuses on fundamental process that occur
in plasma - such as wave propagation, particle and energy transport, and
plasma instabilities and turbulence. Ongoing experiments at the Plasma
& Fusion Sciences Laboratory on the HelCat device
include investigations of:
- Alfvén waves: These waves may be important in heating the
solar atmosphere.
- Plasma turbulence: Can turbulence be controlled? This is important for
fusion energy research.
- Expanding plasmas: How does a magnetized dense plasma expand into
a diffuse plasma - important for understanding astrophysical jets.
- Helicon sources: These create a dense, low temperature plasmas by
a poorly understood mechanism
- Secondary electron emission: High power microwave tubes create an
undesirable plasma at the anode surface. Can this be mitigated?
-
Plasma Astrophysics
Plasma astrophysics is concerned with plasma phenomena in outer space. Ongoing
research includes ionospheric modeling for the Long Wavelength Array (LWA),
and laboratory
simulations relevant to heating the solar atmosphere and the formation of
astrophysical jets.
-
Fusion Energy Research
Fusion is a process that combines the atomic nuclei of light elements,
like the isotopes of hydrogen, to form heavier elements. It is the same
process
by which the sun creates energy. UNM faculty and students are actively
engaged in experimental, theoretical and computational fusion energy
research. This research includes studies both at UNM and collaborations
with outside groups:
- Plasma turbulence: Can turbulence be controlled? We study this
on HelCat
- FRX-L: This research
is at Los Alamos National Lab, where we study the Field Reversed
configuration, an "alternative confinement concept"
- Plasma Opening Switch: This switch uses plasma to conduct 1000's
of amps and 10,000's of volts for the z-pinch experiment Z at Sandia
National Lab
- Temperature measurements: On the Alcator
C-mod tokamak we helped
design and build the ECE
system for measuring the plasma temperature.
UNM Plasma Links
