The Institute conducts fundamental research on the creation and dynamic evolution of plasma in pulsed power devices. Due to their relatively simple structure, these devices serve as ideal platforms for understanding plasma dynamics and properties.
Research Areas
a) Z-Pinch
Study of plasma instabilities from solid to plasma phase, electro-thermo-mechanical (ETM) instability seeding mechanisms, and phase change physics. Development of advanced laser probing diagnostics (shadowgraphy, schlieren, interferometry) for high-resolution plasma evolution studies.
Study of instabilities in Z-pinch devices
This research focuses on the study of plasma instability seeding mechanisms in Z-Pinch configurations through the investigation of the solid-to-plasma phase transition.
b) X-Pinch
Development of pulsed point X-ray sources for high-resolution radiography (μm-scale detail) of rapidly changing structures such as turbine blades in operation, material fractures, explosions, and dense plasma dynamics.
Study of X-Pinch Plasmas
This research focuses on the creation and dynamic evolution of plasma in low-current X-Pinch devices and X-ray production for high-resolution radiography applications.
c) Plasma Focus
Generation of pulsed neutron sources for nuclear spectroscopy applications including detection of explosives and prohibited substances, pollutant identification in waste, and trace element analysis in food products.
Key Capabilities
-
Laser probing diagnostics (shadowgraphy, schlieren, interferometry)
-
Plasma spectroscopy
-
Plasma radiography
-
Plasma pinching and fusion phenomena
-
Plasma jets evolution
-
Phase change physics
-
Plasma instability studies