Itchtakov said:Hi. I'm thinking of doing a PhD in plasma physics, ideally to get into nuclear fusion research. But I am a little concerned that the opportunities with plasma physics are a little narrow. Does anyone know anything about its uses or otherwise in industry/non-fusion research? Thanks.
Ian_Brooks said:I can't say how fast it will be as ITER is still experimental. We'd have to wait until 2018 at least for a definitive market for fusion.
Plasma physics is the study of the properties and behavior of ionized gases, also known as plasmas. These gases consist of charged particles that interact with each other and with electromagnetic fields.
Plasma physics has many practical applications, including in the fields of energy production (such as nuclear fusion), spacecraft propulsion, materials processing, and plasma TVs.
One promising option is nuclear fusion, which uses the energy from fusing atomic nuclei to produce electricity. Another option is using plasmas to create and control high-temperature, high-pressure environments for energy production.
One major challenge is achieving and sustaining the extreme conditions necessary for nuclear fusion. Another challenge is developing efficient and cost-effective methods for controlling and harnessing plasmas.
Plasma physics is essential for understanding and modeling the behavior of plasmas in space, such as the solar wind. It is also being used to develop more efficient and powerful spacecraft propulsion systems, such as ion thrusters.