FIELD TRIP TO PRINCETON PLASMA PHYSICS LABORATORY

by Bernie Sorkin

Eight of us represented the Raritan Photographic Society at the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL) on our photographic field trip in March. After clearing the guard station, we were greeted at the Lyman Spitzer Building. In the auditorium we viewed a short film on the history of plasma research and fusion energy experiments. Then we walked to a factory-sized building, donned hard hats, and followed our guide to see the National Spherical Torus Experiment (NSTX). We were allowed to photograph on the tour without restrictions on the use of tripods or flash.

What we learned was that the NSTX at PPPL is a major element in the U.S. Fusion Energy Sciences Program. It is designed to test the physics principles of spherical torus plasmas. On December 9, 1993, the scientists at PPPL took a major step forward in providing the Earth with an effectively inexhaustible source of energy when in one second they produced three million watts of power, which is enough to light a small town. Construction of the National Compact Stellarator Experiment is proposed to begin in 2003 and experiments could begin as early as 2006. Our thanks go out to Patti Wieser, PPPL Tour Program Services (609-243-2757) and to John Delooper, our guide, for an interesting and informative presentation.