An interdisciplinary applied plasma technology research program in collaboration with a higher-level institution in Illinois would bring together several elements of work already being done, or previously having been done by university scientists, creating a ‘critical mass’ able to attract more substantial funding in the future than such efforts have historically, on an individual basis. It would broaden the appeal of the school’s programs in Aerospace and Electrical Engineering and Physics, in particular, expanding their focus beyond concentrations in computing-related electronics, applied imaging, astrophysics, and high energy particle studies, respectively. Finally, it would establish a path and vehicle for commercialization of research results into the industrial base of the United States and globally.
“Now is the time to move aggressively toward the deployment of fusion energy, which could substantially power modern society while mitigating climate change. Scientific and technological innovations enable a unique US vision for economically attractive fusion energy, with the goal of a fusion pilot plant by the 2040s. The foundation of a US fusion energy industry is central to this vision and the industry has already taken root, with approximately $2 billion of private capital invested to date.”
“The technological and scientific achievements arising from plasma research are significant and far-reaching. Plasma physics helps us understand not only the confined plasmas that could power an energy-generating fusion reactor, but distant stars and other objects, such as supernovae and black hole accretion disks, that capture our imagination. Understanding the exotic states of matter created using the most intense lasers in the world requires deep knowledge of plasma physics. Plasmas transform society, enabling the development of industry-changing technologies, especially the plasma-enabled manufacturing at the heart of the trillion-dollar information technology industry.” (“Powering the Future: Fusion & Plasmas”, DoE, 2020)
An interdisciplinary applied plasma technology research program in collaboration with a higher-level institution in Illinois would bring together several elements of work already being done, or previously having been done by university scientists, creating a ‘critical mass’ able to attract more substantial funding in the future than such efforts have historically, on an individual basis. Importantly, it would establish a path for the injection of research results into the industrial base of the United States and globally.
Illinois has been at the forefront of nuclear sciences and research for decades. It is only logical that a new applied plasma and fusion laboratory be established to collaborate with academia and industry in the state. To be known as the “Space, Plasma, High-energy Electrostatics Research & Engineering Laboratory”, or “SPHERELAB”, the proposed laboratory will engage academic and industrial research clients as well as perform government or foundation sponsored plasma research. It will establish a distinct identity as a Center of Excellence for plasma and high-energy physics and applications.
Indeed, the primary goal of the laboratory proposed herein is to bridge the gap between university and other publicly funded research and the commercial sector. There are many concepts that have been researched in a laboratory setting and matured to the stage that they are ripe for development into commercial products but have been unable to make that leap. This is due to many factors, usually relating to funding or inability to build commercial interest. An R&D laboratory that operates in the space between pure research and commercialization would be able to foster that transition and growth. In contracting terminology, it is analogous to going from an SBIR or NIAC Phase II contract to completing a Phase III and beginning commercialization of the research products.
The ideal locations for the plasma technology laboratory would be either a new facility designed specifically for high-energy research and the fusor apparatus or a vacant facility that has previously been used for aerospace, laser and/or high energy research. The facility should be located on or adjacent to a university campus or at a supportive R&D industrial park. One potential location could be the University of Illinois Research Park (https://researchpark.illinois.edu/).
Among other objectives, SPHERELab will:
- Substantially broaden the funded research base through collaboration with other science and engineering organizations, university departments, and private companies.
- Augment and complement previous, ongoing, and future anticipated work in several areas that could benefit from plasma technology requirements or development, evolving such work toward practical fruition in contractually supported experimental hardware.
- Craft and demonstrate unique signature instruments and develop a world-class center for a broad range of applications of plasma and fusion technology able to attract top talent from industry and academia, including at the undergrad and graduate level.
The laboratory will undertake difficult, high-risk/high-reward investigations in each of the six principal sectors previously identified in the Objectives, the relative activity and prominence of each dependent upon the degree of external funding that can be developed in that program area.
Advancements in Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning since the turn of the Century, combined with modern High Performance Computing platforms have enabled research in the plasma and fusion sciences far beyond what was possible just a couple decades ago. Equally important, these technological advances enable research to be conducted far more economically than in the past. SPHERELab will collaborate with our industry and university partners to fully utilize advanced capabilities in AI/ML to stay on the leading edge of science and technology, especially in the development of commercial products and services.
The primary focus of the laboratory’s work will be research into applications of Inertial Electrostatic Confinement fusion for aerospace applications and the eventual development and commercialization of neutron-free “aneutronic” power and propulsion systems. Fusion is the ideal technology for terrestrial and space-based power systems and high impulse propulsion. It holds the promise of clean energy on Earth and the potential to open the door to truly deep space exploration beyond Earth and even beyond our solar system.
The range of potential applications of Inertial Electrostatic fusion in aerospace is vast. As described by Dr. Robert Bussard in his paper, “Inertial Electrostatic-Fusion Propulsion Spectrum: Air-Breathing to Interstellar Flight”2, IEC fusion technology has potential in air-breathing hypersonic point-to-point transport, orbital tugs and transfer vehicles in Earth orbit and cislunar space, and rapid transport, both uncrewed and crewed, to Mars and beyond