Affiliated National Labs
Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory
The U.S. Department of Energy’s Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL), which is managed by Princeton University, is devoted both to creating new knowledge about the physics of plasmas -- ultrahot, charged gases -- and to developing practical solutions for the creation of fusion energy. Through the process of fusion, which is constantly occurring in the sun and other stars, energy is created when the nuclei of two lightweight atoms, such as those of hydrogen, combine in a plasma at very high temperatures. When this happens, a burst of energy is released, which could theoretically be used to generate electricity.
For nearly 60 years, Princeton and PPPL have been world leaders in research on magnetic fusion energy and their longstanding collaboration enables the University’s top-ranked research programs in plasma physics and plasma astrophysics. Researchers at the PPPL work with collaborators across the U.S. and around the globe to deepen the understanding of plasma physics and develop fusion as an energy source for the world. This includes significant design, fabrication and scientific responsibilities for ITER, the large international fusion experiment currently under construction in France.
Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Adminstration’s Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory (GFDL), located on Princeton University’s Forrestal Campus, is one of the world’s premier centers for climate research and modeling. GFDL develops and uses mathematical models and computer simulations to improve our understanding and predictions of the atmosphere, the oceans and climate.
GFDL has set the agenda for much of the world’s research on the modeling of global climate change and has played a significant role in the World Meteorological Organization and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change assessments. Princeton has close ties with GFDL, including the Program in Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences -- a decades-long collaboration between the University and GFDL.