Plasma: from solar flares to environmental chemistry

In plasma physics, we study systems with large numbers of interacting particles. The field spans many disparate physical situations, from galactic scale interstellar medium to solar flares to fusion power to medical devices. Plasmas can be difficult to model and analyze, but they are also rich with interesting physics and applications. In this talk, I will give an overview of the sorts of physics we use to understand plasma problems and describe two particular projects with undergraduate researchers. The first is a simulation of particle motions in a self-organized magnetic configuration whose properties we want to understand. By identifying the characteristics of particles that remain confined, we hope to learn more about the structure of this plasma. The second is an application of low-temperature plasma at a liquid surface. We use plasma to produce dissolved electrons in water, which are a promising way to break down difficult contaminants like poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).