25D04
Application of Visualization by Virtual-Reality Technology to Plasma Physics
バーチャルリアリティ技術による可視化のプラズマ物理研究への応用
Hiroaki Ohtani1,2, Akira Kageyama3, Yuichi Tamura4, Masanori Nunami1, Seiji Ishiguro1,2,Mamoru Shoji1, Nobuaki Ohno5, Daisuke Matsuoka6 and Ritoku Horiuchi1,2
大谷寛明1,2, 陰山 聡3，田村祐一4，沼波政倫1，石黒静児1,2，
庄司 主1，大野暢亮5，松岡大祐6，堀内利得1,21National Institute for Fusion Science, Toki 509-5292, JapanThe Graduate University for Advanced Studies (SOKENDAI), Toki 509-5292, Japan
3
Kobe University, Kobe 657-8501, Japan
4
Konan University, Kobe 658-8501, Japan
5
University of Hyogo, Kobe 650-0047, Japan
6
Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology, Yokohama 236-0001, Japan1
核融合科学研究所 〒509-5292 土岐市下石町322-6
2
総合研究大学院大学 〒509-5292 土岐市下石町322-6
3神戸大学 〒657-8501 神戸市灘区六甲台町 1-1
4
甲南大学 〒658-8501 神戸市東灘区岡本8-9-1
5
兵庫県立大学 〒650-0047 兵庫県神戸市中央区港島南町7-1-28
6
海洋研究開発機構 〒236-0001 横浜市金沢区昭和町3173-25
2

We report recent progress of virtual-reality (VR) visualization in The National Institute for Fusion Science,
Japan. In the integrated VR visualization, simulation results are shown in the experimental device data withan objective description in the one VR space. The interactive visualization environment for tracing particle
trajectory in the time-varying field is adopted to investigate the role of particle kinetic effects in thecollisionless magnetic reconnection. VR technology is an extremely useful tool in the analysis ofsimulation data and the development of experimental devices.

1. Introduction
In1997, the National Institute for Fusion
Science (NIFS), Japan, installed the CompleXcope
virtual-reality (VR) System based on CAVE system[1] as an instrument for scientifically analyzing
simulation results. NIFS has developed newsoftware including VFIVE, AVS for CAVE, asonification system, and a reactor design aid tool.
Through the use of these new tools, CompleXcope
was adapted for scientific investigations, such as
analysis of magnetohydrodynamics (MHD)
simulation results for MHD dynamo and sphericaltokamak, analysis of molecular dynamics
simulation results for chemical sputtering of plasma
particle on a diverter, and analysis of particle
simulation for magnetic reconnection. In this paper,
we report recent progresses of VR visualization.
2. Visualization results
2-1. Integrated VR visualization
For scientific VR visualization using
CompleXcope system, we construct an approach
method to display both simulation results andexperimental device data integratedly in the VR
world [2,3].
Themagnetichydrodynamic(MHD)

equilibrium simulation code “HINT” produces theequilibrium plasma of the Large Helical Device(LHD)[4].
The
visualization
software“Virtual-LHD” visualizes the isosurface of aplasma pressure, streamline of magnetic field, andthe orbit of drift particle in the VR space [5]. The
three-dimensional mouse “Wand” determinesinteractively the isosurface level, the initial point ofthe streamline, and the initial position and pitch
angle in the VR space.
Experimental device data (LHD vessel)
based on the CAD data is visualized bycommercially available software with an objective
description in the VR space.
It is difficult so far to visualize the objects
by different visualization software in one VR space.
However, new technology can capture the OpenGL
data by the multiple software, and combine theminto one data in one VR space [6,7].
Figures 1 show the initial positions ofparticles, and the snap shot of drifting particles,
respectively, with a single magnetic field streamline. You can observe trapped and un-trapped
particles simultaneously.
Image of plasma simulation results in anexperimental vessel device in VR space has been

physics and fusion plasmas, contributing to future
research.
Acknowledgements
This work is supported by Grant-in-Aids
for Young Scientists (B) (No. 19740346) from theJapan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS).
It is also performed with the support and under theauspices of the National Institute for Fusion Science(NIFS)
CollaborativeResearch
Program(NIFS09KDBN004).

Fig. 1: VR visualization. Top figure shows theinitial position of particles, and bottom shows thesnap shot of drifting particles. Green line shows
one single streamline of magnetic field.

presented with objectively description. This successindicates the possibility of intuitively understanding
the physics of plasma, of aiding in the design andarrangement of the devices and of confirming thefield of vision from the observation port in VRspace.
2-2. Analysis of simulation results by VR
visualization
Interactive visualization environment for
theparticle
trajectories
intime-varying
electromagnetic fields by VR system [8] isdeveloped based on VFIVE, which visualizes
vector fields by streamline, arrows and so on, andscalar fields by isosurface, volume rendering and soon of simulation results interactively in VR space[9-12]. In order to understand the role of theparticle kinetic effects in the collisionless magnetic
reconnection, we adopt this new environment andfind that the trajectories of particles in time-varying
electromagnetic fields are different from that intime-constant data.
3. Summary
VR technology is an extremely useful toolin the analysis of simulation data and thedevelopment of experimental devices. We believethat the advances introduced in this paper will
enhance the study of the phenomena of plasma

References[1] C. Cruz-Neira, D. J. Sandin, and T. A. DeFanti:
Proc. SIG-GRAPH'93. (1993) 135.
[2] H.Ohtani,
Y.Tamura,
A.Kageyama
andS.Ishiguro: IEEE Transactions on plasma
Science, Vol.PP (99) (2011), 1.
[3] H.Ohtani, A.Kageyama, S.Ishiguro, andM.Shohji: Plasma and Fusion Research, Vol.6(2011) 2406027.
[4] K.Harafuji, T.Hayashi and T.Sato: J.Comput.
Phys., Vol. 81 (1989) 169.
[5] A.Kageyama,T.Hayashi,
R.Horiuchi,K.Watanabe and T.Sato: Proc.ICNSP, (1998)
138.
[6] H.Miyachi et al: IEEE Computer Society,(2005), 530.
[7] H.Miyachi et al: IEEE Computer Society,(2007), 536.
[8] N. Ohno et al: submitted to Plasma Fusion Res.
(2011).
[9] A. Kageyama, Y. Tamura and T. Sato: Trans.
Virtual Reality Soc. Japan, 4 (1999) 717.
[10]
A. Kageyama, Y. Tamura and T. Sato:
Progress of Theoretical Physics Supplement,138 (2000) 665[11]
N. Ohno, A. Kageyama and K. Kusano: J.
Plasma Physics 72 (2006) 1069.
[12]
N. Ohno and A. Kageyama: Earth Planet.
Interiors, 163 (2007) 305.