Plasma Physics

Plasma physics deals with macroscopic matter at extreme temperatures and densities.

As we all know, normal matter has three phases: solid, liquid and gas, depending on temperature. If we heat matter even further we reach a fourth state of matter where electrons are removed from the atoms, the so-called plasma state with freely moving electrons and ions as constituents. The parameters of the plasma are temperature and density which can vary over many orders of magnitude, as shown by examples from nature (see Figure).

The corona of the sun as well as the plasmas produced in lightnings on earth have small densities. The density in the interior of Jupiter is much higher - its center may consist of metallic hydrogen. In the interior of the Sun we find a plasma where nuclear fusion reactions take place which provide the energy we live from on our planet. To produce such dense and hot plasmas in the laboratory, GSI researchers direct intense ion pulses onto solid targets, thereby heating and compressing the matter under investigation. In the short time period of their existence these plasmas can be analysed with laser beams and other diagnostic tools.

With the high power laser PHELIX, one can also use laser pulses for plasma heating and employ the ion beam for diagnosis. This combination of intense heavy ion and laser beams provides an innovative research program which is unique worldwide.