Mission

Science & Innovation

Collaboration

Community

Environment

XCP-6: Plasma Theory and Applications

Organizations

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Weapons Engineering

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Engineering Technology and Design (E Division)

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Mechanical & Thermal Engineering (E-1)

Modern Manufacturing Methodologies (E-2)

Automation, Robotics, & Controls (E-3)

Experimental Design Engineering & Assembly (E-5)

Non-Destructive Testing & Analysis (E-6)

Test Engineering (E-14)

Integrated Weapons Experiments (J Division)

Dynamic Experiments (M Division)

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Shock & Detonation Physics (M-9)

Weapon Stockpile Modernization (Q Division)

Weapon Systems Engineering (W Division)

Facilities Operations Weapons Engineering (WFO)

Office of Design Agency Quality

Engineering Services

Infrastructure & Capital Projects

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Who We Are

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Gilbert Ratliff

Physical Sciences

Chemical, Earth and Life Sciences

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Bioscience

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Biochemistry and Biotechnology

Genomics and Bioanalytics

Microbial and Biome Sciences

Chemistry

Actinide Analytical Chemistry

Chemical Diagnostics and Engineering

Inorganic, Isotope, and Actinide Chemistry

Nuclear and Radiochemistry

Physical Chemistry and Applied Spectroscopy

Earth and Environmental Sciences

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Energy and Natural Resources Security Group

National Security Earth Science Group

Climate, Ecology and Environment Group

Scientific Software

Advanced Computational Geosciences Initiative

Space Hazards Induced Near Earth by Large Dynamic Storms

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Intelligence and Space Research

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ISR-1: Space Science and Applications

ISR-2: Electromagnetic Sciences & Cognitive Space Applications

ISR-3: Space Data and Software Systems

ISR-4: Space Electronics and Signal Processing

ISR-5: Space Instrument Realization

ISR-6: Space Remote Sensing and Data Science

Nuclear Engineering and Nonproliferation

Laboratory Directed Research and Development

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Quarterly Highlights

Performance Metrics

Operations (DDOPS)Plutonium Facilities Engineering

Detonator Production

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Weapons Production

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Pit Technologies

Prototype Fabrication

Program Project Interface

Actinide Material Processing and Power

Analytics, Intelligence, and Technology

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A-1: Information Systems & Modeling

A-2: Intelligence & Systems Analysis

A-3: Technology Applications

A-4: Advanced Research in Cyber Systems

A-5: Complex Response Solutions

X Computational Physics

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XCP-1: Lagrangian Codes

XCP-2: Eulerian Codes

XCP-3: Monte Carlo Codes

XCP-4: Continuum Models and Numerical Methods

XCP-5: Materials and Physical Data

XCP-6: Plasma Theory and Applications

XCP-8: Verification and Analysis

Parallel Computing Summer Research Internship

Computational Physics Student Summer Workshop

Electron Microscopy Lab

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Apreo S, Apreo 2 S, and Inspect F SEMs

Helios G4 PFIB DualBeam

Helios Nanolab 600 DualBeam SEM/FIB

ThermoFisher Tecnai F30 TEM

ThermoFisher Titan 80-300

National Criticality Experiments Research Center

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Visitor Information

Radiation Protection

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Annual Occupational Radiation Dosimetry Report

Plutonium Infrastructure Weapons Research Services

Safeguards and Security Technology Training Program

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Courses

Advanced Gamma Nondestructive Assay

Advanced Neutron Nondestructive Assay

Fundamentals of Nondestructive Assay

Plutonium Calorimetric Assay

Statistical Concepts in Nuclear Safeguards

Online Training

Technical References

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Developing and promoting state-of-the-art theoretical and computational modeling of plasmas

We are responsible for plasma physics theory, simulation, and algorithm implementation with our multi-physics codes.

The Plasma Theory and Applications group (XCP-6) nurtures expertise in a range of plasma simulation capabilities, including particle-in-cell (PIC), hybrid (PIC + fluid), radiation-hydrodynamic, magnetohydrodynamic, and charged particle transport.

Xcp 6 Featured Body 960x500 — Researching the effects on infrastructure of high altitude nuclear bursts.

Our application areas include:

Charged particle beam generation
Plasma acceleration and transport
Model verification and physics validation
Inertial confinement fusion
Thermonuclear ignition
Laser-plasma interaction
Fast ignition concepts
High-energy density science
X-ray radiographic simulation
Particle-in-cell code simulations
High-power and high-energy electromagnetic sources
Directed-energy research
Pulsed-power physics
Magnetohydrodynamic phenomena
Space plasmas

Xcp 6 Featured Body 960x500 — A 3-D computer simulation of a cylindrical implosion experiment with a comparison of the simulated radiograph to experimental data.

VPIC modeling of magnetic reconnection — VPIC modeling of magnetic reconnection.

3D VPIC simulation of electron plasma wave self-focusing in stimulated Raman scattering — 3D VPIC simulation of electron plasma wave self-focusing in stimulated Raman scattering.