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 | Dr Adrian Cross | Dr Paul McKenna | Dr Kevin Ronald |
- Research: | Dr Ranaul Islam | Dr Bernhard Ersfeld | Dr Riju Issac | Dr Colin Whyte | Mr Adam Foster | Dr Alan Young | Dr Xiaohui Yuan | Dr Craig Robertson | Dr Gregor Welsh | Dr Wenlong He | Dr Ivan Konoplev | Dr Martin O'Mullane | Dr Helen Yin | Dr David Speirs | Dr Gregory Vieux | Dr Mark Wiggins | Dr Enrico Brunetti | Dr Guiyun Liang | Dr Mark Sherlock | Dr Joseph Melone | Dr Gaurav Srivastava | Dr Gaurav Raj | Dr Adam Noble |
- Visiting Professors: | Prof Padma Shukla | Dr James Lang | Prof Ratko Janev |
- Technical: | Mr David Barclay | Mr Tom McCanny |
- PGRS: | Ms Anna Padot | Ms Alessandra Giunta | Ms Xue Yang | Mr Feng Ping Li | Mr Richard Shanks | Mr Christopher Nicholas | Mr Michael McStravick | Ms Silvia Cipiccia | Ms Maria Pia Anania | Mr Mark Quinn | Mr Liang Zhang | Mrs Salima Abu-Azoum | Mr Ronan Timothy Liam Burgess | Ms Grace Manahan | Ms Kathleen Matheson | Mr Ross Gray | Ms Mireille Coury | Mr Aniculaesei Constantin | Mr Paul McElhinney | Mr Ross Bryson | Mr Martin King | Mr John Farmer |
Current Grants
Hugh Summers, EU (2009-2013), £719268
Title: ADAS-EU: ADAS for Fusion in Europe
Alan Phelps, EPSRC (2009-2013), £1053628
Title: Instabilities in non-thermal plasmas
Alan Phelps, EPSRC (2009-2012), £786096
Title: High power mm and sub-mm wave amplifiers for high frequency ESR/DNP, high resolution radar and remote sensing
Adrian Cross, EPSRC (2008-2012), £691800
Title: Generation of high power, high frequency radiation using high brightness pseudospark-sourced relativistic electron beams
Colin Whyte, STFC (2009-2011), £306678.5
Title: Transfer of enabling high power Ka-band design capability to Industry Research
Hugh Summers, UKAEA (2008-2011), £23430
Title: CASE Studentship for Laura Gibson
Kevin Ronald, MBDA UK Ltd. (2009-2011), £192000
Title: HiPED Project
Paul McKenna, EPSRC (2007-2011), £619384
Title: Laser Energised Radiation Source Technology
Paul McKenna, Other industry (2009-2011), £33267
Title: HiPER Project Subcontract
Paul McKenna, EPSRC (2007-2011), £663503
Title: Key physics for inertial confinement fusion diagnosed by ion emission
Dino Jaroszynski, EPSRC (2007-2011), £2573964
Title: Harnassing laser-driven plasma waves as particle and radiation sources.
Alan Phelps, Other industry (2009-2010), £15000
Title: High Power RF Course
Alan Phelps, Other industry (2009-2010), £0
Title:
Nigel Badnell, STFC (2007-2010), £316993
Title: UK APAP Network
