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JHU Department of
Physics & Astronomy
366 Bloomberg Center
3400 N. Charles Street
Baltimore, MD 21218

410-516-7347 phone
410-516-7239 fax

Plasma Spectroscopy Group

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General Overview

The Plasma Spectroscopy Group is conducting research in the area of atomic processes mainly in high temperature-thermonuclear fusion plasmas and X-ray astrophysics. We develop novel XUV diagnostics to address questions related to particle transport, confinement and MHD activity in both the hot core and the cooler edge of magnetically confined toroidal plasmas. These experiments are conducted at the main fusion research centers in the USA (Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory ) as well as in Europe (ENEA Research Center in Frascati, Italy) and Japan (LHD device at National Institute for Fusion Science, Toki-City).

In collaboration with the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, we have established a long term program (Tokamak Plasma Spectroscopy at LLNL) of experimental and theoretical studies of collisional-radiative modeling of highly ionized-high Z atoms (from the iron group elements to uranium). Presently, this collaboration has been extended to include X-ray Astrophysics.

In the laboratory at JHU, we pursue small-scale experiments in which we study atomic processes in cold plasmas. The plasmas studied are relevant for fusion edge plasma, astrophysics and for plasma processing applications. In addition, we recently began a program aimed at extending our knowledge in the area of SUV and visible diagnostics to such domains of research as life and nano-sciences.

For further inquiries concerning:

1. Scientific activities: contact Professor Michael Finkenthal, mike@pha.jhu.edu, (410) 516-8588.
2. Administrative issues: contact Lauren Fowler, lfowler@pha.jhu.edu, (410) 516-2372.

Current Projects

A. Fusion plasma diagnostics

1. Development of ‘multicolor X-ray diagnostics’ based on optical arrays, for MHD, transport and Te measurements on the NSTX tokamak
2. X-ray telescope for local fluctuation measurements assisted by diagnostic pellet injections for tokamak and other toroidal confinement configurations
3. Development of ‘diagnostic package’ for magnetically confined plasmas, based on simultaneous measurements of integrated and energy resolved spectra, coupled with an atomic simulation code. This diagnostic will enable time and space resolved measurements of impurity content, radiative losses, electron temperature and global particle transport in magnetically confined plasmas.
4. Development of new detectors for X-ray measurements

B. Plasma physics studies

1. Electron and ion (particle and heat) transport in small aspect ratio devices
2. The study of edge localized modes (ELMs) in NSTX
3. MHD activity in tokamaks

C. Astrophysics

1. Benchmarking collisional-radiative models for the emission of M and L-shell emission of atoms of astrophysical and fusion interest (from C to W)
2. Study of high resolution X ray spectra of astrophysical interest in the 2 – 300A range

Research opportunities

We are interested in recruiting graduate students and post graduates to work in any of the following fields:

1. development of novel diagnostics for magnetically confined fusion plasmas
2. development of novel XUV sources and detectors for life sciences and nanostructure studies
3. study of basic plasma physics processes such as transport, turbulence and fluctuations in laboratory and astrophysical plasmas
4. benchmarking atomic physics quantities (excitation, ionization, recombination rates) and collisional-radiative models for laboratory and astrophysical plasmas.

For laboratory work undergraduates are welcomed for shorter periods of time or well defined ‘mini-projects’.

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