UCSD Center for Energy Research

Research Programs

1. Fusion Energy & Applied Plasma Physics Research

ARIES: The ARIES Program is a national, multi-institutional research activity led by UC San Diego. The mission of the ARIES program is to "perform advanced integrated design studies of long-term fusion energy concepts to identify key R&D directions and to provide visions for the fusion program."
PISCES: The PISCES program explores plasma boundary science and plasma-material interactions as they relate to magnetic fusion confinement devices and related applications.
Magnetic Confinement of Plasma: Research on magnetic confinement is carried out in collaboration with major experimental programs at General Atomics (DIII-D), Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (NSTX and NCSX) and KFA Juelich (Textor).
HAPL: The High Average Power Laser Program is a coordinated, focussed multi-lab effort to develop the science and technology for Laser Inertial Fusion Energy (Laser IFE). Research at UCSD involves the reaction chamber and interfaces, including final optics, chamber armor, chamber gasdynamics, target survival, and target injection and tracking.
Laser-Matter Interactions: Basic and applied studies of laser-matter interactions are carried out in the Center for Energy Research, including: Thermomechanical response of surfaces exposed to short-pulse high-energy laser irradiation, Laser ablation plume dynamics, Laser plasma light and particle emissions for next-generation, extreme UV lithography, and high energy density physics based on laser plasmas.
High Energy Density Physics: Research on high energy density physics includes Fast Ignition for Inertial Confinement Fusion, wire array Z-pinches, compact x-ray and neutron sources for applications in medicine, science and industry.

2. Combustion Research

Combustion Division: Chemical-kinetic Mechanisms for Combustion Applications; Nonpremixed flame structure and extinction; Reduced mechanisms for modeling NOx chemistry; Pollutant emissions (NOx and CO) from nonpremixed hydrocarbon flames; Microgravity droplet combustion; Spray combustion; Ignition; Rocket motor instability analysis; Nitramine and other solid propellant combustion; High-speed turbulent combustion; Wet CO flames; Real-time laser diagnostics for temperature and species concentration; Aerosol size and composition measurements; Flame spread on solid materials; Gas turbine instabilities

UCSD Center for Enery Research