Wave generation and heat flux suppression in astrophysical plasma systems #plasma #astronomy

In a space plasma there are few neutral particles.  The pressure is close to a vacuum.  So in general a plasma will be colllisionless.  Heat will flow from the hot surface such as the sun's surface to a cold surface, further out in space.  The magnetic fields are generated by current flows but the magnitude …

Tin vapor is the next big thing in light sources and an evolving new plasma application. These source produce light at the extreme end of the UV spectrum to make patterns at a few nano meters. #plasma #semiconductor

Discharge sources in tin vapor are receiving attention as a candidate for extreme ultraviolet light sources for application in semiconductor lithography, because of their favorable spectrum near 13.5 nm, which is 30 times smaller than the wavelength of visible light.  In an 2005 paper, the ASML EUV laboratory studied time-resolved pinhole imaging in the EUV …

Basic Plasma Parameters; Course in Plasma Physics

The third in a series of a basic course in plasma physics, Basic Plasma Parameters  explains the importance of the concepts of temperature, thermal speed and quasi-neutrality in plasma physics.  The page is accompanied by a short video.

Plasma as Art, A Poem about Electrons

I have said before that plasmas are often considered an art more than a science. This is true in industry where plasmas are developed to do many exotic things and then locked in copy exact mode to perform the same feat forever.  It is why plasma measurement is usually referred to as plasma diagnostics rather …

Basic Plasma Physics: Course 2, History of Plasma Physics

I am publishing the second in a series of courses in Plasma Physics, A brief History of Plasma Physics. It is interesting that the term plasma was first used by Langmuir in 1920's, less than a hundred years ago.  The contribution made by plasma to our everyday life is now quite remarkable.  Everything from mobile …

“What is a Plasma in Physics” – II

I am making available with the kind premission of the author a Plasma Course developed by Richard Fitzpatrick at UT Dallas.  This is the best course I have seen on the web on basic plasma physics. I intend to publish the course over the next number of weeks, starting with - What are plasmas in Physics II.  I have titled …