Mini-Conference Descriptions
Mini-Conferences perform a valuable function at DPP annual meetings. They provide opportunities to focus on areas of research in plasma science and interdisciplinary discourse not ordinarily covered in the regular scientific program and encourages participation from scientists who do not usually attend DPP meetings. The oral presentations of a Mini-Conference include a combination of solicited and unsolicited papers.
13.01 Nonneutral Plasmas: In Honor of Joel Fajans and Cliff Surko
Organizers: Francois Anderegg (University of California, San Diego), William Bertsche (Manchester University), John Bollinger (National Institute of Standards and Technology), Niels Madsen (Swansea University), Chris Rasmussen (Brookhaven National Laboratory), Kurt Thompson (National Institute of Standards and Technology), Francis Robicheaux (Purdue University), Jonathan Wurtele (University of California, Berkeley)
This mini-conference is dedicated to Professor Cliff Surko and Professor Joel Fajans, who developed many of the concepts and techniques that are central to the application of nonneutral plasmas. Nonneutral plasmas (NNPs) are both of fundamental interest to plasma physics and have applications across many other subfields of physics and related sciences. The goal of the mini-conference is to bring together researchers on nonneutral plasmas with atomic and particle physicists who use NNP systems to enable their research. Recent advances in techniques to control, manipulate, and utilize NNPs has been central to many applications of nonneutral plasmas in atomic physics and tests of fundamental symmetries. These applications include antihydrogen trapping, positron-electron plasmas, positron spectroscopy, exotic atoms, and ion trapping. The field is very dynamic, with advances in nonneutral plasmas rapidly utilized to improve applications. The focus of the mini-conference will be on low energy NNPs and their applications to atomic and fundamental symmetry physics. Contributions, especially those using or building on techniques and ideas developed by Fajans or Surko, are welcomed from the broader nonneutral plasma community conducting research on, for example, sheaths, cathodes, charged particle beams, and radiation sources.
13.02 DOE Milestone Awardee Physics Basis
Organizers: Carlos Paz-Soldan, Ian Stewart (Columbia University), Stephanie Diem (University of Wisconsin)
The DOE Milestone program supported efforts across a range of fusion companies to advance the physics basis for their chosen plasma confinement concept and/or fusion pilot plant. This mini-conference will feature presentations by all eight current DOE Milestone awardees to communicate their current physics basis to the APS DPP community. The program will also include additional presentations from a select number of international participants and will be accompanied by a poster session. This mini-conference will provide the APS DPP community with a comprehensive look at the status of cutting-edge Fusion Pilot Plant design studies in the US and provide insights into related efforts abroad.
13.03 Nuclear Physics in Plasmas
Organizers: Brian Appelbe (Imperial College, London), Jutta Escher (Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory), Chad Forrest (University of Rochester), Maria Gatu-Johnson (Massachusetts Institute of Technology)
Many research topics require expertise in Nuclear and Plasma Physics. These include (i) fundamental nuclear-plasma processes, such as nuclear excitation in plasmas and electron screening of nuclear reactions, (ii) the development of nuclear diagnostics for fusion experiments and reactor design, which require accurate nuclear data and theory, and (iii) the acquisition of novel nuclear data at plasma and high-energy-density experimental facilities. Ignition on the NIF, the development of a range of high intensity laser facilities, the growth of the fusion industry and novel signatures of astrophysical processes from multi-messenger observations all provide new opportunities for investigating these topics using both theory and experiment. The mini-conference on Nuclear Physics in Plasmas aims to bring together researchers from the Nuclear, Nuclear Astrophysics and Plasma Physics communities to explore cross-cutting themes and identify pathways for advancing understanding in these fields.