High-Energy-Density and Plasma Astrophysics
Our team uses theory, high-performance computing, and laboratory experiments to study plasmas under extreme conditions associated with high-energy astrophysical environments and intense laser-matter interactions. The study of nonlinear plasma processes in these regimes has far-reaching implications for our understanding of some of the most spectacular phenomena in the universe and for societal applications that range from clean energy production to medical therapy. Our work is funded by the European Research Council (ERC) grant XPACE.
Cosmic plasmas are the most powerful particle accelerators in the universe. How do plasma processes associated with collisionless shocks, magnetic reconnection, and hydrodynamic instabilities shape particle acceleration and radiation emission in these extreme environments?
 Laboratory Astrophysics
Can we mimic cosmic accelerators in the lab and study their inner workings?
 High-Energy-Density Physics
Can we use the interaction of intense lasers with plasma to develop compact ion accelerators for medical applications? And can we advance high-gain inertial confinement fusion to develop the ultimate clean energy solution?
 Advanced Computing and Machine Learning
Can we use artificial intelligence and interpretable machine learning tools to accelerate the development of more efficient models and numerical algorithms in physics?
