Plasma Physics
Ionization potential depression (IPD) is of crucial importance to understand and accurately predict the properties of dense partially ionized plasmas. Many models of IPD have been developed that, however, exhibit largely varying results.…
Dense quantum plasmas out of equilibrium are successfully modeled using quantum kinetic equations, such as the quantum Boltzmann, Landau or Balescu-Lenard equation. However, these equations do not properly take into account correlation…
We present the first experimental evidence of inhomogeneous melting in a finite dusty plasma crystal confined in an anisotropic potential well. By systematically tuning the confinement anisotropy and applying controlled laser heating,…
Electron Bernstein Waves (EBWs) are electrostatic waves than can propagate in overdense plasmas without density cutoff, making them suitable for high density plasma heating. Since EBWs cannot be directly launched from vacuum, mode…
This paper presents results from systematic investigations conducted in the HYPERION facility to quantify permeabilities of hydrogen isotopes in FLiBe over a temperature range of 773K - 973K. To address the knowledge gap resulting from…
Numerical modeling of the edge and scrape-off layer (SOL) must account for atomic processes such as hydrogenic ionization and recombination, charge-exchange, and line radiation. Their reaction rates depend non-linearly on density and…
We present the FreeGSNKE Pulse Design Tool (FPDT), an open-source, Python-based computational framework that enables in silico testing and predictive design of tokamak plasma scenarios and control strategies. The FPDT couples the FreeGSNKE…
We report measurements of the electron drift mobility in dense argon gas over an extended range of densities, temperatures, and electric fields, supplementing our earlier work. The measurements confirm the validity of the heuristic model we…
Modeling the Scape-off layer (SOL) of stellarator fusion devices is challenging due to the complicated magnetic topology, requiring numerical tools to solve transport equations for realistic geometries. Previously the flux coordinate…
This study investigates the characteristics of X-pinch plasmas driven under low current rise rate ($dI/dt$) conditions using soft x-ray spectroscopy combined with the Bennett relation. X-pinch experiments were conducted on the SNU X-pinch…
We present a data-driven approach for constructing generalized collisional kinetic models for inhomogeneous plasmas in one-dimensional physical space and three-dimensional velocity space (1D-3V). The collision operator is directly learned…
The double-cone ignition (DCI) scheme holds a promising perspective for laser driven fusion energy and astrophysics. However, optimizing the laser irradiation uniformity under the constraints of limited laser beams and a given cone angle…
We investigate the stability and nonlinear evolution of localized electron-scale current sheets using fully kinetic, electromagnetic particle-in-cell (PIC) simulations in two and three dimensions. By varying the current-sheet thickness, we…
A thermodynamic model of a plasma boundary layer, characterized by enhanced temperature contrasts is proposed. The theory is constructed to determine the inner boundary temperature $T_1$ for a specified outer (colder) boundary temperature…
Relativistic, polarized pair-photon fireballs are central to understand the microscopic energy transfer of high-energy astrophysical outflows, yet generating an overdense fireball in the laboratory, especially via an ultraintense laser,…
Real-time control of tokamak plasmas encompasses sustaining a high-performance stationary state, avoiding disruptions, and managing ramp-up and ramp-down phases. Real-time estimation and control of electron density is fundamental for…
The article Nuclear Fusion \textbf{66}, 016012 (2026) by Richard Fitzpatrick is based on fundamental errors in the physics of the evolution of the poloidal magnetic flux in tokamaks. This paper was inspired by an article…
We revisit the matching conditions for self-guided laser pulse propagation in plasma and refine their formulation to maximize the energy of electrons produced via laser wakefield acceleration. Bayesian optimization, combined with…
We revisit the double adiabatic evolution equations and extend them to the relativistic and ultrarelativistic regimes. We analytically solve the relativistic, time-dependent drift kinetic equation for a homogeneous, magnetized,…
The interaction of ultrafast lasers with plasmas has been studied for many years, primarily with respect to fundamental emission mechanisms. Only in recent years has ionizing radiation emerged as a safety concern in ultrafast laser-based…