High-Energy-Density Physics (HEDP) Division

High-Energy-Density Physics (HEDP) is the study of matter under extreme states of pressure (~ 1 Mbar to 1000 Gbar, or one million to one trillion times the atmospheric pressure at Earth’s surface). Examples of places where these conditions occur are the Earth’s core, the Sun’s core, and igniting Inertial-Confinement-Fusion (ICF) implosions (~250 Gbar). At these pressures matter behaves very differently than at Earth-like pressures, displaying rich physics. The study of this type of physics is important in understanding how stars form, how elements are made, and how to harness fusion energy on Earth using ICF.

The PSFC’s HEDP Division researches a wide range of topics by exploiting the extreme physical conditions achievable through the use of large off-site facilities specially designed for research in HEDP and in ICF. Laser energy is used to compress capsules filled with fuel material to high density and pressure in order to generate fusion reactions with the goal of self-sustained fusion burn (“ignition”) and the generation of energy. The work is primarily executed using the 30‑KiloJoule OMEGA laser at the University of Rochester and the 2‑MegaJoule laser at the National Ignition Facility (NIF). PSFC researchers work with collaborators in developing special diagnostic instrumentation that makes it possible to study spatial and temporal variations in plasma properties and electromagnetic fields through spectral, temporal, and imaging measurements. The researchers actively participate in planning experiments at the facilities and in analyzing the results. Major research topics include:

(*) Physics of Inertial-Confinement Fusion
(*) Properties of Warm Dense Matter
(*) Stellar and Big-Bang Nucleosynthesis
(*) Basic nuclear physics
(*) Astrophysical Jets
(*) Magnetic reconnection

In addition to working at the large facilities, PSFC scientists and students utilize an in-house accelerator facility, designed and built largely by students, to test and calibrate new plasma diagnostic instruments that will be used at OMEGA and at the NIF.

The High-Energy-Density Physics (HEDP) division of MIT’s Plasma Science and Fusion Center (PSFC), along with four other universities, has been awarded a five-year, $10 million grant to establish a Stewardship Science Academic Alliances Center of Excellence. The PSFC will be the lead partner in the center, which includes the University of Iowa; the University of Nevada at Reno; the University of Rochester; and Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.

The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) award will support educational and research missions across the partners. The goal of the newly established center is to generate exceptional experimental and theoretical PhDs in HEDP and inertial confinement fusion (ICF), while addressing issues of critical interest to the Department of Energy’s NNSA and national labs.

Officially called the Center for Advanced Nuclear Diagnostics and Platforms for Inertial ICF and HEDP at Omega, NIF and Z, the center will focus on the properties of plasma under extreme conditions of temperature, density and pressure. Center partners will collaborate closely with the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Sandia National Laboratory, the Laboratory for Laser Energetics, and General Atomics.