Overview
Understanding the complex behavior of confined plasmas has led
researchers to formulate the fundamental equations of plasma physics.
This foundational work and understanding of plasmas has led to important
advances in fields as diverse as computers, lighting, waste handling,
space physics, switches and relays, and lasers.
At Rensselaer's Plasma Dynamics
Laboratory, high temperature plasma research has been crucial
in the development of a controlled thermonuclear fusion energy source.
This research program focuses on development of sophisticated particle
beam diagnostic systems for making space and time resolved measurements
on magnetically confined plasma.
In the Laboratory, specific diagnostic techniques are developed
and tested on relatively small scale experiments, and then the techniques
are scaled up for installation on major confinement experiments
located off-campus.
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