Plasmas Division
(Division coordinator: Alan Phelps)
The Atoms, Beams, and Plasmas group has current activities in experimental
and theoretical relativistic electron beam physics, electron cyclotron
masers, cyclotron autoresonance masers (CARMs), free electron lasers,
superradiant sources, novel electron sources, optical sensing of electromagnetic
fields, pseudospark physics and plasma applications. 
Non-neutral relativistic
plasma physics is a growth area, with applications in heating fusion
plasmas, plasma diagnostics, communications, accelerators, radars, and
millimetre-wave heating. Other research interests are in the areas of
spectroscopy, reaction kinetics, and collision dynamics of a range of
systems of wide current interest. The research areas can be grouped under
two headings, the role of atoms, ions and molecules in plasmas, and molecular
spectroscopy applied to remote sensing of the earth's atmosphere. The
plasma physics comprises high temperature fusion and stellar plasmas,
including that of the solar corona, and low temperature discharges. The
atmospheric spectroscopy involves exploration of the greenhouse effect,
and the development of field instrumentation for remote sensing. A wide
range of modern experimental spectroscopic techniques, in particular
Fourier-transformation and tuneable-laser spectroscopy, are employed
to investigate the fundamental processes. There is a strong theoretical
computational group focused principally on electron collisions and spectral
emission from plasmas. This work is closely linked to major Earth observation,
astrophysical, fusion and heavy ion ring laboratories in Europe with
substantial staff mobility.
The Strathclyde Intense Laser Interaction Studies (SILIS) group has experimental and theoretical research programmes in (i) x-ray production through high harmonic generation (which can be synthesised into attosecond pulses) and bremsstrahlung when intense laser pulses interact with matter; (ii) Nonlinear optics including Raman and superradiant amplification, guiding and induced transparency arising when intense laser pulses interact in a preformed plasma; (iii) Advanced accelerators: laser-wakefield acceleration and its application to free-electron lasers; (iv) terahertz generation from magnetised plasmas; (v) femtosecond laser micromachining; (vi) photofragmentation studies of molecules; (vii) ultrashort electron-pulse generation and laser-assisted acceleration; (viii) sub-cycle pulse generation using electron beams, semiconductors and plasmas; (ix) interaction of terahertz pulses with plasma, semiconductors, and simple quantum systems; (x) superradiant amplification in free-electron maser amplifiers; (xi) plasma studies: interaction of ultra-intense pulses with atomic clusters, gas jets, foils and solids; and (xii) collective scattering processes in solid-state plasmas and classical scatterers.
This research programme is supported by a collection of state-of-the-art high power femtosecond lasers, which form part of the TOPS facility. One of the sources is a terawatt laser capable of providing intensities above 10^18 W/cm2 suitable for creating astrophysical like conditions and for studying matter under extreme conditions. The terawatt laser is synchronised to two millijoule level femtosecond lasers, which are used to provide tuneable visible and infrared radiation using optical parametric and difference-frequency mixing techniques for time and frequency-resolved studies. An electron photoinjector accelerator is being developed to provide 100-fs duration relativistic electron bunches for use as an injector of the wakefield accelerator and to power a free-electron maser amplifier. The TOPS sources are excellent research tools for the study of ultrafast phenomena, collective radiation-matter interactions, and ultra-high field physics. The facility is utilised by a growing community of users from a broad range of disciplines.
Members of the Plasmas Division
- Academic: | Prof Nigel Badnell | Prof Bob Bingham | Prof Dino Jaroszynski | Prof Alan Phelps | Prof Hugh Summers | Prof Ken Ledingham | Prof Paul McKenna | Dr Adrian Cross | Dr Kevin Ronald |
- Research: | Dr Ranaul Islam | Dr Bernhard Ersfeld | Dr Colin Whyte | Dr Alan Young | Dr Craig Robertson | Dr Gregor Welsh | Dr Wenlong He | Dr Martin O'Mullane | Dr Helen Yin | Dr David Speirs | Dr Gregory Vieux | Dr Mark Wiggins | Dr Enrico Brunetti | Ms Alessandra Giunta | Dr Mark Sherlock | Dr Gaurav Raj | Dr Adam Noble |
- Visiting Professors: | Prof Padma Shukla | Dr James Lang | Prof Ratko Janev | Professor Savilov |
- Technical: | Mr David Barclay | Mr Tom McCanny |
- PGRS: | Ms Xue Yang | Mr Feng Ping Li | Mr Richard Shanks | Mr Michael McStravick | Ms Silvia Cipiccia | Ms Maria Pia Anania | Mr Liang Zhang | Mr David Bowes | Mrs Salima Abu-Azoum | Ms Grace Manahan | Ms Kathleen Matheson | Mr Ross Gray | Ms Mireille Coury | Mr Constantin Aniculaesei | Mr Paul McElhinney | Mr Ross Bryson | Mr Martin King | Mr John Farmer | Mr Graeme Scott | Mr David Grant | Mr Alan Phipps | Ms Kathryn Humphrey | Mr David MacLellan | Mr Yevgen Kravets | Ms Anna Subiel | Mr Stuart Henderson | Mr Robert Campbell | Mr Oliver Tresca | Miss Amy MacLachlan | Mr Martin Mitchell | Mr Peter Grant | Mr Panagiotis Lepipas | Mr David Reboredo Gil |
Current Grants
Dino Jaroszynski, EPSRC (2011-2018), £1927885
Title: Application of Next Generation Accelerators (DTC) - Studentship
Paul McKenna, EPSRC (2011-2016), £1330509
Title: Multi-Petawatt Laser-Plasma Interactions: A New Frontier in Physics
Kevin Ronald, STFC (2012-2016), £306591
Title: Proposal for Continuation of UK Participation in the International Muon Ionisation Cooling Experiment
Paul McKenna, STFC (2011-2015), £15000
Title: Data Analysis of a Laser-Plasma Radiological Experiment on the Vulcan Laser
Martin O'Mullane, EPSRC (2010-2014), £0
Title: EPSRC Industrial CASE: Stuart Henderson
Martin O'Mullane, UKAEA (2010-2014), £25280
Title: Impurity Behaviour in the MAST Spherical Tokamak
Hugh Summers, EU (2009-2013), £719268
Title: ADAS-EU: ADAS for Fusion in Europe
Paul McKenna, STFC (2010-2013), £8100
Title: High Intensity Laser Interaction Diagnostics - G Scott PhD Studentship
Paul McKenna, STFC (2010-2013), £10050
Title: Diagnostic Options Capable of Operating in 10PW env - David McLellan PhD studentship
Dino Jaroszynski, STFC (2010-2013), £127864
Title: External Beam Therapy Using Very High Energy Electrons Generated by Laser-Plasma Wake-Field Accelerators
Alan Phelps, EPSRC (2009-2013), £1026225
Title: Instabilities in non-thermal plasmas
Hugh Summers, EPSRC (2012-2012), £40000
Title: Atomic Physics Research and Development at CCFE - 2012
Martin O'Mullane, UKAEA (2012-2012), £40000
Title: Atomic Physics Research and Development at CCFE - 2012
Kevin Ronald, MBDA UK Ltd. (2011-2012), £30000
Title: MBDA Studentships 2011-12
Kevin Ronald, Strathclyde - Research development fund (2011-2012), £33850
Title: REP-TMD Technologies Ltd
Alan Phelps, EPSRC (2009-2012), £771109
Title: High power mm and sub-mm wave amplifiers for high frequency ESR/DNP, high resolution radar and remote sensing
Dino Jaroszynski, Strathclyde- Research Enhancement Fund (2011-2012), £80000
Title: TIC Development, Advanced Science and Technology
Kevin Ronald, MBDA UK Ltd. (2011-2012), £106000
Title: HiPED Programme - Novel Compact Microwave Sources
Dino Jaroszynski, Strathclyde - Research development fund (2011-2012), £5000
Title: RDA - Training Fund
Kevin Ronald, Royal Society (2010-2012), £0
Title: Sources of coherent terahertz radiation for spectroscopy and diagnostic applications
Kevin Ronald, TMD Technologies Ltd (2011-2012), £19500
Title: TMD EPSRC KTA REP Programme: mm-Wave Sources for Biochemical Spectroscopy
Dino Jaroszynski, Strathclyde - Research development fund (2011-2012), £20000
Title: EPSRC Developing Leader - Peter Keenan
