Plasma physics
Where basic science meets technology
Uwe Czarnetzki from the Chair of Experimental Physics explains what plasmas can already do and what they are likely to facilitate in the future.
Plasma physics is the study of the behaviour of ionised gases. Statistical physics, fluid dynamics, electrodynamics as well as atomic and molecular physics come together to form a discrete discipline. Plasmas determine both stellar evolution on astronomical scales and etching of nanostructures in the semiconductor industry. Plasma-based engines are already powering satellites in space, and very hot magnetised plasmas may provide clean energy through controlled nuclear fusion in the future. Tiny cold plasmas at atmospheric pressure offer a wide range of applications, from CO2 conversion to medicine and biology. Major advances in measuring the internal parameters of plasmas and in their simulation have recently contributed to a much better understanding of these complex systems. Wherever the journey into the future takes us, it will not be without plasmas.
