Press Releases
A New “Spin” on Studying Plasma Dynamics
Scientists from the Max Planck Institute in Germany developed a model of electron spin diagnostics that reveals the magnetic properties of branched plasma beams.
A New Way to Stay in Space: the Self-Neutralizing Air-Breathing Plasma Thruster
New plasma technology developed by researchers from George Washington University can enable efficient and affordable propulsion of satellites in very low-Earth orbit.
American Physical Society Invites Denver to Discover Plasma
Free hands-on science events offered to teachers, students and the public.
For Fast Ions Heating a Fusion Plasma, Collisions Can Be a Drag
Mathematical technique used to study waves in plasma can also be applied to gravitational interactions within galaxies and dark matter.
New Insights into Fueling Next-Generation Fusion Power Plants
Measurements by researchers at PPPL help clarify role of high-energy neutral particles and charge exchange to better predict how fusion power plants should be fueled.
Burning Question: New Measurements Reveal a Source of Plasma Heat Loss
Measurements from the JET tokamak provide a method for estimating the loss of fast ions in fusion plasmas.
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory Reports Historic Fusion Ignition Breakthrough
On July 30, 2023, LLNL conducted a controlled fusion experiment where the NIF laser delivered 2.04 megajoules (MJ) of energy to a target, resulting in 3.88 MJ of fusion energy output.
Plasma Catheter: A New Method of Fighting Life-Threatening Bacterial Infections
Penn State graduate student, Ali Kazemi, explores new plasma technology to help thousands of patients with heart disease.
New experiments detect processes driving solar flares, magnetic storms
Researchers find the first direct experimental evidence of the production of energetic electrons and acoustic waves during magnetic reconnection.
The Contrarian: Counterintuitive methods improve fusion plasma performance
Kyle Callahan, Ph.D. student at UCLA, lead a project that showed the possibility of reducing heat losses and improving performance of fusion plasmas by injecting non-hydrogen elements like carbon or neon.
Flipping Plasma Geometry at DIII-D Demonstrates Stable Pathway to Practical Fusion Energy
Using a reverse of the standard “D-shape” plasma cross-section leads to promising results that could solve several roadblocks to producing stable, high performance fusion plasmas needed for a power plant.
Which private company will be the first to achieve commercial fusion?
To help answer this potentially trillion-dollar question, the journal Physics of Plasmas is publishing a special issue dedicated to recent progress in private fusion research.
Ghosts in the Plasma: Tracking the Footprints of Orbital Debris
Researchers at NRL are using plasma theory, simulations, and experiments to develop a new way of detecting optically invisible debris in Earth’s orbit.
Why do plasmas emit high-energy X-rays?
A recent study from Caltech explains why certain plasmas emit bursts of high-energy X-rays, advancing understanding of solar flares, astrophysical jets, and fusion devices.
From Science Expo to Scientist
Scientist Jayson Barr found fun and a future at the APS-DPP Plasma Science Expo.