Students & Alumni
Graduate Students
Nate Chalmers
My research interests center on X-ray spectroscopy and the dynamics of X-pinch plasmas. Currently, my work focuses on characterizing the opacity during the compression phase of an X-pinch plasma. While it is generally assumed that the plasma remains optically thin during this phase, my goal is to experimentally verify and quantify this assumption using absorption spectroscopy. This research is conducted using our laboratory’s XP Pulsed Power Machine, a powerful driver capable of delivering 500 kA in 60 ns, providing ideal conditions for studying transient plasma phenomena.
Cameron Chavez
Currently I am working on Power Flow experiments. Using the 1-MA generator COBRA, we create a high current density, high electric field, and high magnetic field environment like those in the inner MITL of terawatt and greater generators. We are interested radiation effects and materials effects in the power flow region of these machines. I am using plasma diagnostics to characterize temporal and spatial dynamics of plasmas inner MITL conditions. Interferometry, spectroscopy, XUV imaging, and visible imaging are all key tools for investigating these plasma environments.
Jiyuan Chen
Jiyuan (Given) Chen earned his bachelor’s degree from Huazhong University of Science and Technology and is now a Ph.D. graduate student in the Applied and Engineering Physics Department at Cornell University. In his undergraduate study, he worked on betatron radiation generated in Laser Wakefield Acceleration. Using the same simulation tool, he now is investigating the ionization processes and other interesting plasma phenomena in laser and meta-surface interactions.
Euan Freeman
I am currently working on developing and using a Faraday Rotation diagnostic to study the magnetic field distribution in imploding gas-puff Z-pinches. These measurements will be used to confirm and compare with other magnetic field diagnostics such as Zeeman Spectroscopy and B-dot probes, and be used to develop a further understanding of the current distribution in these plasmas. In the future, I also plan to field this diagnostic on loads relevant to power-flow experiments.
Jihoon Kim
I work on ultra intense Laser-Plasma interaction using Particle-In-Cell codes and analytical modeling. My current projects include laser phase dependent phenomena in laser-wakefield accelerators and ion acceleration using structured targets and Petawatt-class lasers.
Joshua Luoma
I am interested in studying fundamental plasma physics and its application to engineering and industry. At Cornell, I am helping to design a two-color interferometry and shadowgraphy diagnostic for the COBRA pulsed power generator. This diagnostic will image plasma with both visible (532 nm) and ultraviolet (355 nm) laser light, capturing plasma dynamics and enabling the measurement of plasma density. The ultraviolet light is particularly useful, as it can probe deeper into the plasma than visible light.