Plasma & Fusion Sciences Lab
@ The University of New Mexico

The Plasma and Fusion Sciences Laboratory at UNM is engaged in terrestrial-based experiments to study plasma processes and phenomena important to plasma astrophysics and fusion energy. Our astrophysics studies are focused on understanding the heating of the solar atmosphere, the solar wind, solar flares, Earth's magnetosphere, the aurora and astrophysical jets. Our fusion research investigates turbulence and plasma confinement, and alternative fusion concepts. However, these small-scale laboratory studies cannot reproduce outer space, nor can we obtain the conditions of a large fusion device. Instead, we study fundamental physics processes that appear to be important in the dynamics of space and fusion plasmas. For details on this approach in astrophysics research check out the space simulation page.

Current Research
The Plasma & Fusion Sciences Lab uses the Helicon-Cathode Device, HelCat for fusion, basic and astrophysical plasma research. Using this facility we are engaged in researching the following topics

• Alfvén waves, waves that travel along magnetic field lines like waves on a string, are important in heating the solar atmosphere, Earth's magnetosphere and the formation of Earth's aurora.
  
• Expanding plasmas, where a dense magnetized plasma expands into a less dense region, and magnetic reconnection, the tearing and reconnection of the magnetic field. Here we are trying to understand the formation of astrophysical jets.
  
• Plasma turbulence is a major problem in fusion energy research, since it causes particles and heat to be transported out of the plasma. However, some transport is good. Thus, we are researching ways to control the turbulence and transport related to fusion devices.
  
• Helicon plasma sources are a very efficient way to create high-density, highly-ionized plasma. How they work is not well understood. This work includes looking at multiple source helicons on the alpha device.
  
• Collaborations with other groups:
  
• 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.
  

Laboratory Plasma Group
Our research group is comprised of three faculty, Dr. Mark Gilmore, Dr. Christopher Watts, and Dr. Alan Lynn, along with several graduate and undergraduate researchers. All students participate in hardware design and construction, instrument design, along with data taking and analysis. Click for a list of personnel. If you are interested in fusion and/or space plasma research and in joining our group, please contact Dr. Watts or Dr. Gilmore about graduate studies at UNM.

Publications
Recent Publications from the Plasma & Fusion Sciences Laboratory.

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