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Complexity Science Experiment (ΣE) Lab
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The lab explores the complex phenomena of magnetically confined plasmas through experiments.
AboutAbout the lab
Taking on the unknowns of plasma through experiments.
The Complexity Science Experiment Lab (ΣE Lab) investigates the physical phenomena of magnetically confined plasmas through experiments.
Although the equations of motion of individual particles are known, plasmas form the diverse structures observed in the universe, and are regarded as a "treasure trove of complexity." The lab reproduces this complexity in laboratory experiments that are within reach, and studies it.
The lab is based at the National Institute for Fusion Science (Toki, Gifu Prefecture) and uses large fusion experimental devices as well as experimental devices it has developed itself.
Professor Nagaoka also holds a concurrent appointment at the Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University, but is usually at the National Institute for Fusion Science.
Key terms
- Large Helical Device (LHD)
- A device at the National Institute for Fusion Science. External coils twist the magnetic field to create the confining magnetic field without a plasma current
- Internal transport barrier
- A phenomenon in which a steep temperature gradient forms in the central (core) region of a plasma
- Alfvén wave
- A type of magnetohydrodynamic wave that propagates in a plasma with a magnetic field
- Laguerre-Gaussian beam
- Light carrying orbital angular momentum. Also called an optical vortex
NewsLab news
Paper on negative ion beams published in Scientific Reports, with a joint press release
A student received the Young Researcher Presentation Award at the 41st Annual Meeting of the Japan Society of Plasma Science and Nuclear Fusion Research
Results from LHD experiments published in Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion
A student received the Poster Presentation Award at AAPPS-DPP2023
ResearchResearch themes
The ΣE Lab aims to uncover the physics of magnetically confined plasmas through experiments. Using the large devices at the National Institute for Fusion Science and its own experimental devices, the lab studies complex phenomena that arise when many components obeying simple laws come together.
*Illustrative imageTransport in magnetically confined plasmas
In experiments on the Large Helical Device (LHD), the lab has studied internal transport barriers, where steep temperature gradients form, and the mechanisms by which impurity ions are expelled. It also focuses on the formation of large-scale flows driven by turbulence.
*Illustrative imageInteraction between energetic particles and waves
When heating beams are injected, fast ions resonate with Alfvén waves and cause anomalous transport. Using its own measurement methods, the lab has directly captured this resonance, and is now attempting to measure the response of the velocity distribution of fast ions that interact with the waves.
*Illustrative imageFundamental experiments on rotating turbulence
Using electroconvection in liquid crystals, an easily controlled turbulence experiment, the lab studies the properties of turbulence and transport when rotation or spatial gradients are added little by little. The approach is to add complexity step by step to a simple system and extract universal properties.
*Illustrative imageNew plasma measurements using optical vortices
The lab is developing a measurement method that uses light carrying orbital angular momentum (Laguerre-Gaussian beams) and can also measure the velocity distribution function in the direction perpendicular to the laser. Experiments are carried out on the linear plasma device Hyper-I, with the aim of making precise measurements.
MembersFaculty
The members of the Complexity Science Experiment Lab (ΣE Lab) consist of faculty, doctoral and master's students, and in-house collaborating researchers at the National Institute for Fusion Science.As of 2026
- ProfessorKenichi Nagaoka
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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: “Experimental hall of the Wendelstein 7-X stellarator at IPP Greifswald 04” Siarhei Besarab / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Transport in magnetically confined plasmas: “Compact Toroidal Hybrid at Auburn University” GJHartwell / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Interaction between energetic particles and waves: “Pegasus Toroidal Experiment ( )” troop_156_glenview / CC0 (cropped)
- Fundamental experiments on rotating turbulence: “F-16XL Scamp Flow Visualization Test - GPN” NASA / Public domain (cropped)
- New plasma measurements using optical vortices: “Lasertests” The Air Force Research Laboratory’s Directed Energy Directorate / Public domain (cropped)
- Related lab (Complexity Science Theory (ΣT) Lab): “Experimental hall of the Wendelstein 7-X stellarator at IPP Greifswald 03” Siarhei Besarab / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Plasma Theory (P) Lab): “Cross-section of the Wendelstein 7-X plasma vessel” Siarhei Besarab / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Solar-Terrestrial Environment Physics (SST) Lab): “First GOES-17 SUVI Images Capture Solar Flare ( )” NOAA Satellites / Public domain (cropped)
- Related lab (High Energy Particle Physics Lab (N)): “Accelerator Desy 2” Milkodromeda / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
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