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Advanced Plasma Science and Engineering Lab
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The lab uses electromagnetic waves to heat, control, and measure plasma for nuclear fusion.
AboutAbout the lab
Tackling fusion plasma with waves and RF technology
The Advanced Plasma Science and Engineering Lab studies the physics and engineering of plasma for nuclear fusion, using the QUEST spherical tokamak device.
The lab develops methods for heating and controlling plasma with electromagnetic waves (RF), diagnostic techniques for measuring the state of plasma, and high-frequency and millimeter-wave components.
The lab is described as a place where students can gain extensive knowledge, skills, and experience, because much of the equipment needed for plasma research has to be built in-house.
The faculty belong to the Research Center for High-Temperature Plasma Science and Engineering at the Research Institute for Applied Mechanics, and teach students as a cooperating research group of the Plasma and Quantum Science and Engineering major at the Interdisciplinary Graduate School of Engineering Sciences.
Key terms
- Spherical tokamak
- One method of confining high-temperature plasma with a magnetic field. QUEST is the largest device of this type in Japan.
- Gyrotron
- An electron tube that produces high-power millimeter waves. It is used for plasma heating and current start-up.
- Non-inductive current drive
- A method of driving plasma current without relying on an induced electric field. It is essential for fusion reactors, which need steady-state operation.
- Plasma diagnostics
- Measurement that examines the state of plasma using refraction, reflection, emission, and other behavior of electromagnetic waves.
ResearchResearch themes
The lab pursues a wide range of research in fusion and plasma science, centered on plasma waves and RF (electromagnetic wave) technology. Using the QUEST spherical tokamak at Chikushi Campus, it works on plasma heating and control, the development of plasma diagnostics, and related plasma wave physics.
*Illustrative imagePlasma diagnostics using electromagnetic waves
The lab examines the state of plasma using electromagnetic wave phenomena in plasma such as refraction, reflection, and emission. To address the problem that waves spread out, making local values difficult to measure, it uses phased array antennas and adaptive array methods.
*Illustrative imagePlasma current start-up and sustainment
Steady-state operation of a fusion reactor requires non-inductive current drive that does not rely on an induced electric field. The lab developed a gyrotron, a high-power millimeter-wave electron tube, and stably sustained a plasma with a higher current than ever before.
*Illustrative imageControl of plasma profiles and stability
Plasma control with high-frequency and millimeter waves includes control of the plasma potential (electric field) profile and control of stability. Burning plasma experiments require fine profile control, and recently the lab has mainly been developing the high-power high-frequency and millimeter-wave components needed to shape the beams used for such control.
*Illustrative imageDevelopment of high-frequency and millimeter-wave components
The lab develops phased array antennas and a fast millimeter-wave waveguide path switch, the latter in joint research with the Japan Atomic Energy Agency. Components used for high-power transmission are large compared with the wavelength, and unwanted higher-order modes may be excited, so beam shaping is important.
MembersFaculty
The members of the Advanced Plasma Science and Engineering Lab consist of faculty, administrative staff, and doctoral, master's, and undergraduate students.As of 2026
- ProfessorHiroshi Idei
- Associate ProfessorRyuya Ikezoe
VoicesStudent voices
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Report an errorAbout the images
The top and research theme images are illustrative and were not taken at the lab. They are cropped from Wikimedia Commons images. Cropped CC BY-SA images are provided under the same CC BY-SA license as the original (version shown on each line).
- Top image: “TCABR lab” Marcos Santos / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Plasma diagnostics using electromagnetic waves: “IPhO-de-2020R3 W7-X microwave diagnostics” I2ho7p / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Plasma current start-up and sustainment: “General Fusion plasma injector ( )” Eye Steel Film from Canada / CC BY 2.0 (cropped)
- Control of plasma profiles and stability: “Openstax college-physics 22.26b tokamak-schematic” OpenStax / CC BY 4.0 (cropped)
- Development of high-frequency and millimeter-wave components: “WaveguideJ-Band” Muraer / CC BY-SA 3.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (先進核融合情報制御理工学): “Experimental hall of the Wendelstein 7-X stellarator at IPP Greifswald 05” Siarhei Besarab / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (核融合プラズマ物性制御工学研究室): “Soldering practice object for tokamak construction, in park of Tsukuba Expo Center” Syced / CC0 (cropped)
- Related lab (非平衡プラズマ力学研究室): “IPT-plasma-jet” Endeavour88 / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (物質
移動反応工学研究室): “Hydrogen (Element - 1)” James St. John / CC BY 2.0 (cropped)
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