PLASMA PHYSICS GROUP
Welcome to the Imperial College plasma physics research group, a world-leading University group in plasma physics research. The group is actively engaged in both experimental and theoretical aspects of research, including fundamental plasma physics, generation of plasma waves for charged particle acceleration and controlled thermonuclear fusion.
One of humanity's main quests today is controlled thermonuclear fusion – to harness the power source of the Sun in a controlled laboratory environment for a new source of energy. The concept originated with the groundbreaking work of Sir George Thomson in our group at Imperial College. 
Today, our group is still very actively involved in this important area of research, enjoying strong associations with UKAEA Fusion at Culham and the Joint European Torus (JET). We are also major users of the Central Laser Facility from the STFC, featuring one of the most powerful laser systems in the world. We also have access to several other key laser systems in the world, including at Lund in Sweden, the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor in the USA and other facilities in a number of European facilities in France and Germany.
The group’s use of these facilities is mainly for the purpose of controlled thermonuclear fusion research. In particular, Imperial College houses in its underground the Mega Ampere Generator for Plasma Implosion Experiments (MAGPIE) facility. The MAGPIE facility is used to study wire array Z-Pinch implosions, which are the world’s most powerful and efficient laboratory X-Ray sources. As a result, Z-Pinches are widely used in indirect drive Inertial Confinement Fusion (ICF) experiments for uniformly bathing a target Deuterium-Tritium pellet into fuel implosion. To this end, the MAGPIE team has close collaborations with Sandia National Laboratories, the University of Cornell and the US Department of Energy (DOE).
As over 99% of the Universe is in a plasma state, plasma physics is a fundamental subject underpinning many wide subject areas such as astrophysics, space physics and laboratory ionised gases. Research in plasma physics is strongly linked to many areas of interest in astrophysics and space physics such as galaxies, stars, the interstellar medium, the intergalactic medium, astrophysical jets such as those from black holes or even terrestrial, nebulae, the Earth’s magnetosphere and its interaction with the solar wind, aurorae and the Earth’s ionosphere. On a more technologically applied front, plasma physics research has a strong footing in spacecraft propulsion technology (such as ion thrusters), plasma televisions, electronic chip manufacturing (such as computer processors), lighting and other important areas including controlled thermonuclear fusion.
Controlled thermonuclear fusion being one of the main driving forces behind plasma physics research, the group engages in both aspects of ICF research, direct drive by direct interaction of laser beams with the fuel targets, and indirect drive by irradiation of fuel targets by X-Rays generated by laser beams interacting with a radiative surface (Hohlraum) or by wire array Z-Pinch implosions. The group is also engaged in magnetic confinement fusion (MCF) aspects of research using Tokamaks such as JET. 
Fundamental plasma physics research carried out by the group includes laser-plasma interactions, plasma spectroscopy and charged particle acceleration by generation of plasma waves. In particular, interactions between plasmas and short pulse lasers (~ 1 fs) have produced world records in electron acceleration, harmonic generation and self-generated magnetic fields. The MAGPIE facility is also being used to carry out research on technologies such as ion thrusters for employment in future spacecraft. Additionally, the MAGPIE facility is used to generate plasma jets that resemble those observed in astrophysical situations, providing an experimental basis for astrophysics research (laboratory astrophysics).
Since 2001, the group has published over 50 papers in journals with an impact factor greater than 6 (33 in Physical Review Letters, 12 in Astrophysical Journal / Letters, 3 in Nature and 2 in Science). The group continues to publish groundbreaking plasma physics research in major world journals, letters and magazines. PhD students of the group enjoy providing a major contribution into many important aspects of research with strong links with surrounding subjects and technological applications. They also enjoy being part of one of the world’s largest and most involved plasma physics research groups, which have research interests in a wide spectrum of related subjects.
