Physics Department COLLOQUIUM Dr. Mark Derzon from Sandia National Labs Title: A Brief Overview of Research Into Radiation Source Development and Radiation Sensors in the Micro-fabrication program at Sandia National Laboratories As in so many facets of society it is desired to increase the rate of data acquisition and reduce the cost of experiments in the plasma sciences. This can help speed our ability to understand the world around and well it is fun. Micro-fabrication offers some unique opportunities to build radiation sources as well as sensors to understand certain plasma physics problems from the astronomical to the useful, such as fusion. Recently we have proposed fabricating pulsed accelerator diode components with micro-fabrication techniques. The devices can be used to study the Rayleigh-Taylor Instability which is implicated in the creation of cosmic rays and current failures in man-made inertial confinement fusion attempts. This technology may allow for relevant, low cost facilities for high-throughput plasma studies. Interests takes us to the Crab nebula, where many of the structures that are formed arise from the Rayleigh-Taylor Instability (see figure on the left) or natural creation of a pinch plasma, see there solar flare in the photo. These same phenomenon are observed in smaller scale laboratory work. We will explain the plasma physics of the instability, the creation of these small plasmas in the lab and discuss some applications. Thursday, November 7, 2013 4 pm, Workman101
Posted on: Wed, 06 Nov 2013 23:10:19 +0000