Research in the PLASMAWISE (PLAsma Simulation for MAterial interactions, Waves, Instabilities, Shocks, Everything else plasma) laboratory focuses on researching plasma physics phenomena as applied to nuclear fusion, space propulsion, space science, and a number of basic plasma science applications of relevance to national interest. Nuclear fusion has the potential to meet terrestrial energy demands perpetually (as far as human timescales are concerned) and an efficient, compact fusion energy system has the potential to power long-duration, high thrust, high specific impulse human spaceflight.  Controlled fusion, however, remains one of the biggest challenges of the twenty first century. With these motivations, we develop high-fidelity physics models to study fundamental plasma science for plasma-based space propulsion, inertial confinement, magneto-inertial, and magnetic confinement fusion, and space science, to name a few.

We perform cutting-edge plasma physics research in a variety of areas ranging from laboratory-to-astrophysical applications, fluid-to-kinetic regimes, and basic-to-applied research.  We develop and use a suite of computational tools that include a number of open-source, research, and programmatic fluid and kinetic codes of varying fidelity for our applications.

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