Physics Research Division

   M. Porkolab - Head

Understanding the basic physics of plasmas is necessary not only to advance fusion research, but also to increase the physics-based foundation of plasma-related scientific disciplines and applications.

Members of the Physics Research Division, including theoretical and experimental plasma physicists, faculty members, graduate and undergraduate students and visiting collaborators, work together to better understand plasmas and to extend their uses.

Research topics include:

  • Laboratory experiments
  • Development of novel plasma diagnostics
  • Theory of magnetically confined plasmas
  • Nonlinear wave propagation, turbulence and chaos
  • Space plasma physics
  • Plasma astrophysics
  • Laser-plasma interactions
  • Inertial confinement fusion experiments

Research Groups:
Fusion Theory & Computation - A. Bers, J. Freidberg, D. Sigmar
Levitated Dipole Experiment (LDX) - J. Kesner, M. Mauel

A collaboration between Columbia University and MIT, LDX is novel experiment currently being designed to test the innovative concept of magnetic dipole confinement.

Experimental Plasma Physics - VTF - A. Fasoli
X-Ray, g -Ray and Inertial Fusion - R.D. Petrasso
Ionospheric Plasma Research - M.C. Lee
Advanced Plasma Diagnostics - A. Fasoli, M. Porkolab, P. Woskov
Site maintained by: D. Garnier
Last updated: Mon, Feb 8, 1999