The Basic Plasma Science Facility (BaPSF): a place to perform frontier experiments

The Basic Plasma Science Facility (BaPSF) at UCLA is a national collaborative research facility for studying fundamental processes in magnetized plasmas. The facility currently hosts 11 external user groups from institutions across the world. The centerpiece of the facility is the Large Plasma Device (LAPD), a 20-meter-long magnetized linear plasma device. The LAPD has been utilized to investigate a host of fundamental processes such as collisionless shocks, magnetic field line reconnection, Alfvén waves physics, turbulence and transport, the interaction of energetic particles with plasma waves, whistler and lower hybrid interactions to name a few. A plasma source utilizes a large area LaB₆ cathode. The plasma diameter may be controlled (typically 40-60 cm). The axial field magnets are controlled with 10 independent power supplies allowing a variety of configurations with on-axis magnetic fields of up to 2 kG. The LAPD is able to provide: 5X10¹¹ < n_e <5X10¹³ cm^-3, (T_e < 15eV, T_i < 5eV, c/ω_pi > 7 cm, L = 3300, He). Diagnostics include 300 GHz microwave interferometers, Thomson scattering, a 1.3 m optical spectrometer, and a wide range of probes with capability of mapping plasma parameters in space and time. A unique internal three-dimensional probe drive is in the design phase and components are currently being tested. An overview of recent research conducted at the facility will be provided, along with a discussion of future plans, including an upcoming call for experimental runtime proposals on LAPD. This year we invite you to come to a Thursday night tour of the LAPD, high energy laser lab and the plasma processing lab. Free transportation, food and an assortment of drinks will be provided. Plasma Party! Sign up attendance is limited to 200.