WSPPL Lab
Nathaniel Tarullo (’26). Josh Whelan (’27), Maia Peterson (’27), Julia Nordstrom (’25) and Dr. Schroeder (L to R) The plasma is the pink glow in the middle of the experiment, just to the left of Maia’s head. The larger orange circular objects around the plasma are magnetic coils.
The Wheaton Space Plasma Physics Laboratory (WSPPL) is designed to study plasmas with conditions relevant to Earth’s radiation belts while placing students at the forefront of federally-funded research. The WSPPL is designed to embrace this opportunity with student-led research. Seen in photo, students have assembled a three-meter vacuum system, electromagnets, and plasma source.
Students have built an antenna and impedance matching circuit enabling a high-power radio frequency (RF) amplifier to form plasma by ionizing a stream of argon flowing through the vacuum system. This work culminated in the production of WSPPL’s first plasma in April 2025. Students have participated in collaborations and given presentations at national conferences. Several students have returned for a second summer or academic year of research, adding to the quality of their experience and allowing greater productivity through continuity.
Schroeder presentation on his research at 66th Annual Meeting of the APS Division of Plasma Physics October 2024
