Discovery Plasma Science: A question on Facilities

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The National Academies, Plasma Science Committee September 25, 2013

Ann SatsangiOffice of Fusion Energy Science

Department of Energy

a task for the Committee

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intermediate-scale facilities

enhancing capabilities

for plasma science

discovery

IdentifyNeeds andOpportunities

(Activity #2 in NRC proposal #10001361)

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Success in the Fusion Energy Sciences will have far-reaching implications

MissionThe mission of the Fusion Energy Sciences (FES) program is to expand thefundamental understanding of matter at very high temperatures anddensities and to build the scientific foundations needed to develop a fusionenergy source. This is accomplished by the study of the plasma state and itsinteractions with its surroundings.

the broader role of FES

Plasma Science 2010

Principal Recommendation:

“To fully realize the opportunities in plasma research a unified approach is required. Therefore, the Department of Energy’s Office of Science should reorient its research programs to incorporate magnetic and inertial fusion energy sciences; basic plasma science; non-mission driven HEDLP; and low temperature plasma science and engineering.”

discovery plasma science elements

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NSF/DOE Partnership

Research of fundamental plasma science and engineering issues awarded through annual joint NSF/DOE solicitation - 39 projects at 25 institutions

DOE Laboratory General Plasma Science

Research at the National Labs exploring: magnetic reconnection, laboratory simulation of solar flares, plasma flow through magnetic nozzle, plasma sheath and surface interactions.

Plasma Science Centers

Multi-institutional collaborative teams focused on critical questions: LowTemperature Plasmas; Astrophysics-Laboratory Plasma Connections;Momentum Transport, Magnetic Instabilities; High Energy Density Plasmas

Plasma Science Facilities

“User” Facility: access to frontiers of plasma science• Basic Plasma Science Facility (BaPSF) at UCLA: 10 m plasma column

for studying waves and non-linear effects in a fully magnetized plasma

• Matter at Extreme Conditions (MEC) end station on LCLS at SLAC: high power optical lasers combined with the LCLS hard-x-ray beam, for studying warm dense matter physics, high pressure studies, shock physics, and high energy density physics

Fundamental low-

temperature plasma science

Discovery-driven high

energy density plasma science

Cross-cutting plasma

research

Intermediate-scale plasma

science

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‘Plasma 2010’ identified four research challenges not being met

Fundamental low-

temperature plasma science

Discovery-driven high

energy density plasma science

Cross-cutting plasma

research

Intermediate-scale plasma

science

7

‘Plasma 2010’ identified four research challenges not being met

Fundamental low-

temperature plasma science

Discovery-driven high

energy density plasma science

Cross-cutting plasma

research

Intermediate-scale plasma

science

8

‘Plasma 2010’ identified four research challenges not being met

Fundamental low-

temperature plasma science

Discovery-driven high

energy density plasma science

Cross-cutting plasma

research

Intermediate-scale plasma

science

9

‘Plasma 2010’ identified four research challenges not being met

Fundamental low-

temperature plasma science

Discovery-driven high

energy density plasma science

Cross-cutting plasma

research

Intermediate-scale plasma

science

10

‘Plasma 2010’ identified four research challenges not being met

Office of Science management model

Pushing Frontiers of Scientific Knowledge• scientific research

• open-access scientific

user facilities.

First-Rate Scientists

World-Class Facilities

effective investments in General Plasma Science

Identifying gaps in our current portfolio…

“Some of the most profound questions of plasma science are ripe for exploitation right now and best addressed at the intermediate scale”

- NRC “Plasma 2010” Report

Additional experimental facilities or upgrades could be initiated.• NRC Plasma Science Committee to scope potential facility

opportunities and areas of need• Complement existing capabilities• Provide a suite of user-accessible research tools

Preference towards open access and “User” facilities will leverage these investments into research capabilities for the entire GPS community

Future Directions:

GPSPORTFOLIO

Low Temperature Plasma Science

Basic Plasma Science

@ Univ/Industry

@ DOE Lab

@ Univ/Industry

@ DOE Lab

Single Investigator

NSF/DOEPartnership

Grants

Lab Award

NSF/DOEPartnership

Grants

Lab Award

Centers/Collaboration PSC PSC CMTFO

CMSOCMTFOMPPC

User Facilities ? ? BAPSF ?

Leverage prior Investments (e.g.. dusty plasma and dynamo facilities)Enhance and upgrade existing facilities (magnetic reconnection, basic plasma toroidal facility)New facilities meeting specific needs

Opportunities Await

what is an “intermediate scale” facility?

bigger than…

smaller than…

$ Construction

$ An

nual

Ope

ratio

ns

$2M

$300k

$4M $40M

what is an “intermediate scale” facility?

why intermediate scale facilities?

Push frontiers of scientific knowledge – beyond that of the university, single investigator scale

Flexible – to fit needs of a discovery science approach

Accessible – to a broad range of users

Collaborative environment for student development

Plasma Science Committee input

Question:Where can moderate Federal investments in intermediate-scale facilities provide access to unique capabilities to push discovery in fundamental plasma science?

Comment on:• Areas of capability gaps• Areas of technology readiness• Areas of high impact• Level of accessibility and demand

- broad impact via open use / user facility • Connectivity - potential to precipitate beneficial collaborations to reach other

connections (i.e. international, interdisciplinary)