Overview of the Basic Plasma Science Facility

POSTER

Abstract

The Basic Plasma Science Facility (BaPSF) at UCLA is a US national user facility for studies of fundamental processes in magnetized plasmas. The centerpiece of the facility is the Large Plasma Device (LAPD), a 20m long, magnetized linear plasma device\footnote{W. Gekelman, et al., Rev. of Sci. Inst. {\bf 87}, 025105 (2016)}. This LAPD has been utilized to study a number of fundamental processes, including: collisionless shocks\footnote{A.S. Bondarenko, et al., Nat. Physics {\bfseries 13}, 573 (2017)}, dispersion and damping of kinetic and inertial Alfv\'{e}n waves\footnote{C.A. Kletzing, et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. {\bfseries 104}, 095001 (2010).}, turbulence and transport\footnote{D.A. Schaffner, et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. {\bfseries 109}, 135002 (2012). } interactions of energetic ions and electrons with plasma waves\footnote{B. Van Compernolle, et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. {\bfseries 114}, 245002 (2015).} and RF sheaths produced by an ICRF antenna\footnote{M. Martin, et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. {\bfseries 119}, 205002 (2017)}. An overview of the facility and recent upgrades and recent research using the facility will be provided. In addition to a discussion of how prospective users can apply for experimental time.

*The Basic Plasma Science Facility is supported by DOE and NSF and was constructed using an NSF MRI

Authors

  • T.A. Carter

    • University of California, Los Angeles
    • UCLA
    • Basic Plasma Science Facility at UCLA

  • Walter Gekelman

    • University of California, Los Angeles

  • George Morales

    • University of California, Los Angeles

  • Stephen Vincena

    • University of California, Los Angeles

  • Shreekrishna Tripathi

    • University of California, Los Angeles

  • Bart Van Compernolle

    • University of California, Los Angeles

  • Pat Pribyl

    • University of California, Los Angeles