Plasma physics and its application

The fourth state of matter plasma is an ionized gas that is globally neutral and shows collective behaviors. It is known that over 99 percent of the material in the universe remains in a plasma state. But its importance and character have been recognized in the 20th century. Plasma physics is an important branch of science to scientists because with the help of plasma physics mechanisms nuclear fusion can be achieved on the earth to generate abundant, safe, carbon-free energy. Moreover, there are a number of other applications of plasma found in industrial and medical fields. Plasma science and engineering are crucial to the nation’s economic strength, are significant to national security, and affect daily life. Plasma physics is an intellectually diverse field with a broad set of scientific challenges.

Plasma

When the temperature of a solid is increased, the crystalline lattice structure will be destroyed and will be ended up with a liquid. If the temperature of the liquid is increased, the kinetic energy of the atoms will be increased and the distance between atoms also be increased and forms into gas. As the temperature of the gas increased, the kinetic energy of the atoms prompted the electrons to escape from the atom. It composes the matter of ions and electrons. This ionized gas is called plasma, the fourth state of matter. In conventional physics, the word “plasma” refers to a gas of charged particles of opposite electrical charges that are overall neutral and displays collective effects. To understand the collective effect of plasma we need to define Debye length, Plasma frequency, and Collision frequency.

Application of Plasma

Plasmas have global significance because of their growing effect. Companies of all sizes are benefited from the development fields ranging from one-person start-ups to the biggest manufacturing companies in the world. Plasma can be used to support humanity in a variety of ways. Semiconductor fabrication, nanotechnology, hydrogen extraction from alcohol, antenna beam shaping, plasma display panels, plasma polymerization, coating, plasma torch, cancer treatment, and so on are some of these applications. Furthermore, solid-state plasmas, astrophysical plasmas, and nuclear fusion are being extensively studied and applied.

Space and Astrophysical Plasmas

Plasmas that form in space are known as astrophysical plasmas. The plasma that makes up stars falls into this group. The Sun continuously produces plasma known as the solar wind, which can induce aurora and impact satellites in orbit around the Earth. Interstellar space includes plasma as well [4]. Turbulence in magnetized plasmas regulates the energy transformation into plasma heat and thus has a significant influence on the Earth’s observed radiation. So, research in space physics increasingly focuses on plasma physics. Furthermore, space physics and astronomy are providing basic insights into plasmas. Indeed, some research questions in plasma physics will be better answered if astrophysics is studied. Astrophysics research now heavily relies on mathematical models to connect ground- and space-based observations and predicts simplified computational models. Computational simulation has been acknowledged as the third underpinning for scientific studies in astrophysics.

Magnetic confinement Fusion

Under intense heat and pressure, gaseous hydrogen fuel transforms into plasma Plasmas include the atmosphere in which light elements can combine and yield energy. The large magnetic coils mounted around the core will shape and regulate the charged particles of plasma [7]. Scientists are using this property to confine the hot plasma away from the container walls. Applying this science, International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) is planned to achieve 500 MW of fusion power from the input of 50 MW of heating power.

References

1. Stenson, E., Horn-Stanja, J., Stoneking, M., & Pedersen, T. (2017). Debye length and plasma skin depth: Two length scales of interest in the creation and diagnosis of laboratory pair plasmas. Journal of Plasma Physics, 83(1), 595830106. doi:10.1017/S0022377817000022.
2. Filbert, P. C., and Kellogg, P. J. (1979), Electrostatic noise at the plasma frequency beyond the Earth’s bow shock, J. Geophys. Res., 84( A4), 1369– 1381, doi:10.1029/JA084iA04p01369.
3. M. F. Hoyaux (1968) Plasma phenomena and the solid state, Contemporary Physics, 9:2, 165-196, DOI: 10.1080/00107516808202176.
4. K G McClements and M R Turnyanskiy 2017 Plasma Phys. Control. Fusion 59 014012.
5. Sheffield, J. “The physics of magnetic fusion reactors”. Rev. Mod. Phys. 1994; 66:1015–1103.
6. Betti, R., Hurricane, O. Inertial-confinement fusion with lasers. Nature Phys 12, 435–448 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1038/nphys3736.
7. Ongena, J., Koch, R., Wolf, R. et al. Magnetic-confinement fusion. Nature Phys 12, 398–410 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1038/nphys3745.
8. Brandom, R. (2016, February 3). Germany just turned on a new experimental fusion reactor. The Verge. https://www.theverge.com/2016/2/3/10907914/germany-experimental-fusion-reactor-w7-x