National Institute for Fusion Science
Japanese

Plasma Quantum Processes Unit

Research Summary

The Plasma Quantum Processes Unit is organized to study various quantum processes in plasmas, such as electromagnetic emission and absorption due to quantum interactions between electrons, ions, atoms, and molecules in plasmas, the interaction between atoms and electromagnetic fields, materials, intense lasers, and intense particle beams, etc. Spectra are useful to understand plasma properties, such as electron temperature and density, velocity fields, magnetic field strengths, etc., and microscopic quantum processes between plasma constituents and electromagnetic fields may contribute to developing macroscopic properties of plasmas.

The main missions of the unit are to understand 1) spectra and properties of highly charged high-Z ions to examine high-Z impurity behavior in fusion plasmas; 2) plasma properties of interactions with radiation fields and materials; 3) collective and transport phenomena due to atomic collisions; 4) nonlinear and nonequilibrium properties for laser-material interaction; and 5) atomic properties of exotic muon atoms.

To achieve the missions, we will perform theoretical and experimental studies on atomic structure and spectra of highly charged high-Z ions and exotic atoms with a muon, develop spectroscopic models for nonequilibrium plasmas with evaluation by experiments, examine collective phenomena of plasmas by theoretical studies, numerical simulations, and machine learning techniques, and perform experiments on interaction with lasers and particle beams, and theoretical and experimental studies on nonlinear and non-equilibrium high-density plasma produced by laser-material interactions. We also promote and accelerate joint research in Japan and overseas to perform these research plans and will create new research fields through interdisciplinary collaborations on atomic and molecular process research and database development, by forming a research center network with universities and institutions.

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Figure 1. Tungsten spectra were measured in LHD and compact Electron Beam Ion Trap (CoBIT) for extreme ultraviolet wavelength range. CoBIT can measure spectrum with limited charge state distribution [1].
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Figure 2. Numerical simulation for laser-plasma interaction. Electric field strength is shown in color [2].
  1. H. A. Sakaue et. al., in preparation
  2. S. Kojima et. al., "Electromagnetic field growth triggering super-ponderomotive electron acceleration during multi-picosecond laser-plasma interaction", Communications Physics 2 (2019) 99.

Keywords

Fusion Science

  • Highly charged high-Z ions
  • Anisotropic non-equilibrium plasmas
  • Plasma-material interaction
  • Negative ions
  • Laser-plasm interaction
  • Muon catalyzed fusion
  • Nonthermal nonlinear nonadiabatic collisions

Interdiscipline

  • Atomic and molecular elementary processes
  • Muon atoms and molecules
  • High energy density plasmas
  • Astrophysical plasmas
  • Origin of heavy elements
  • Extreme ultraviolet and soft X-ray light sources
  • Extreme high-pressure physical properties
  • Laser quantum beam science
  • Quark gluon plasma

Unit Members

MURAKAMI, Izumiorcid Research Fields Plasma Atomic and Molecular Processes
KATO, Daijiorcid Research Fields Atomic physics (theory)
SAKAUE, Hiroyukiorcid Research Fields Atomic physics (experimental)
SUZUKI, Chihiroorcid Research Fields Plasma spectroscopy
FUNABA, Hisamichiorcid Research Fields Plasma diagnostics
MUTO, Sadatsugu Research Fields Plasma diagnostics
IWAMOTO, Akifumiorcid Research Fields Cryogenics, Fusion engineering
MORITAKA, Toseoorcid Research Fields Plasma simulation
YAMAGISHI, Osamuorcid Research Fields Plasma transport theory
Pritiorcid Research Fields Atomic Physics (COE Researcher)
Shivam Guptaorcid Research Fields Atomic Physics (COE Researcher)
KATO, Masatoshi Research Fields Atomic and Molecular Database (Research Associate)

Contact

Plasma Quantum Processes Unit
Email: pqp(at)nifs.ac.jp
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