an institute of physics report | april 2012 uk plasma … · 2018-02-27 · uk plasma visions: the...

UK Plasma Visions: the state of the matter

An Institute of Physics report | April 2012

Report prepared by the Institute of Physics Plasma Physics Group

This report was prepared by the Institute of Physics Plasma Physics Group Dr Declan Diver Chair of the IOP Plasma Physics Group School of Physics & Astronomy Kelvin Building University of Glasgow Glasgow G12 8QQ Scotland, UK

Tel +44(0) 141 330 5686 Fax +44(0) 141 330 8600 E-mail [email protected]

PLASMA VISIONS REPORT 1 Executive summary ................................................................................................................................. 4

2 Introduction ............................................................................................................................................ 7

3 Overview of plasma science ................................................................................................................... 8

3.1 What is a plasma? ............................................................................................................................ 8

3.2 Low-temperature plasmas .............................................................................................................. 8

3.3 High-temperature plasmas .............................................................................................................. 9

3.4 Magnetic confinement fusion ....................................................................................................... 10

3.5 Laser–plasma interactions ............................................................................................................. 10

3.6 Plasma-based accelerators ............................................................................................................ 10

3.7 Astrophysical plasmas ................................................................................................................... 11

4 Breadth and impact of plasma science ................................................................................................ 12

4.1 Overview of plasma science publication data ............................................................................... 12

4.2 Summary of RCUK and government funding support ................................................................... 14

4.3 European dimension ...................................................................................................................... 16

4.4 Industrial impact of plasma science .............................................................................................. 16

5 Specific details of current UK plasma activity ...................................................................................... 17

5.1 Current strengths of UK plasma science ....................................................................................... 17

5.2 UK plasma science activity: specific details ................................................................................... 18

5.2.1 Low-temperature plasmas: ................................................................................................... 18

5.2.2 Pulsed-power-driven plasmas: .............................................................................................. 18

5.2.3 RF and microwave plasmas: .................................................................................................. 19

5.2.4 Laser–plasma interactions: .................................................................................................... 19

5.2.5 Magnetic confinement fusion: .............................................................................................. 19

5.2.6 Plasma astrophysics: .............................................................................................................. 21

6 New challenges in plasma science ....................................................................................................... 21

6.1 Low-temperature, partially ionised and complex plasmas ........................................................... 21


6.3 Laser–plasma interactions ............................................................................................................. 23

6.4 Plasma measurement .................................................................................................................... 24

6.5 Numerical modelling of plasma evolution .................................................................................... 25


7 Meeting the challenges: resources, synergies and opportunities ...................................................... 26

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7.1 General remarks ............................................................................................................................ 26

7.2 Low-temperature plasmas ............................................................................................................ 27

7.3 Laser–plasma interactions and inertial fusion............................................................................... 28



7.6 Plasma modelling........................................................................................................................... 29

7.7 Anticipated synergies .................................................................................................................... 30

8 Supplementary information sources .................................................................................................... 31

9 Glossary of terms .................................................................................................................................. 32

10 Details of plasma research in universities ....................................................................................... 34

11 Plasma industry activity .................................................................................................................... 36

12 Data on journal articles about plasma research .............................................................................. 38

13 Data on grant-funded plasma science.............................................................................................. 43

13.1 Table 1: EPSRC grants awarded that were active in the period 2006–2011 inclusive .................. 43

13.2 Table 2: STFC plasma-related grants awarded that were active in the period 2006–2011 inclusive

49

13.3 Table 3: NERC plasma-related grants awarded that were active in the period 2006–2011

inclusive ..................................................................................................................................................... 51

13.4 Table 4: BBSRC plasma-related grants awarded that were active in the period 2006–2011

inclusive ..................................................................................................................................................... 52

13.5 Table 5: Leverhulme Trust plasma-related research project grants awarded that were active in

the period 2006–2011 inclusive ................................................................................................................ 52

13.6 Table 6: Summary of research funding awards ............................................................................. 53

15 Acknowledgements .......................................................................................................................... 54

16 Appendix: details of the consultation process ................................................................................ 55

16.1 Plasma Visions: the motivation ..................................................................................................... 55

16.2 Plasma Visions questionnaire ........................................................................................................ 56

16.2.1 Questionnaire details: ........................................................................................................... 56

16.3 Guidance for Plasma Visions questionnaire .................................................................................. 57

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1 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

This report was compiled in order to communicate the breadth of

activity and ambition within the plasma science community in the

UK, and to inform potential research collaborators, funders and poli-

cy makers.

Breadth and impact of plasma science

Plasma science is a diverse and lively research frontier, with a wide-

ranging and profound impact on UK strategic science, engineering

and industry. Almost uniquely among the physical sciences, plasmas

embrace the full breadth of research scope: fundamental science,

future technologies and disruptive technology. The diversity of ap-

plication of plasma science is extraordinary: from environmentally

clean nuclear fusion power plants to exacting and intricate surface

processing; from immensely energetic photon–matter interactions in the lab and space to delicate healing

of wounds in plasma medicine – the all-encompassing scientific and societal impact of this truly far-from-

equilibrium state of matter is remarkable.

Key questions that drive plasma science

Plasma science is uniquely placed as a scientific pursuit to address fundamental challenging science ques-

tions such as:

What happens to matter under extreme pressure and temperature?

How do partially ionised gaseous systems behave at extreme scale lengths (from the very small to

the astronomically large)?

What governs the capacity of plasma systems to self-organise, and interact with surfaces, includ-

ing biological material?

Can plasmas provide unique chemical environments for non-equilibrium processes?

How can any of these plasma conditions be produced, harnessed, modelled and diagnosed?

These questions underpin a world-class research effort that ensures continuous high-quality innovation,

technical advance and first-rate scientific inquiry. Plasma science plays a key part in shaping the strategic

scientific capability of UK researchers, creating the science leaders of the future and developing innova-

tive technological solutions to grand challenges ranging from energy to healthcare.

Examples of excellence in impact and ambition

Implicated in many of these grand challenges is the plasma medium. For example, the interaction be-

tween high-power, short-pulse lasers and solid matter can produce extreme densities and temperatures;

magnetically confined fusion reactors create plasmas with powerful magnetic fields and high tempera-

tures; micro-discharges generate plasmas of such tiny dimensions that they defy the normal hierarchy of

scales for classical plasmas; biological systems react in surprising ways to atmospheric plasma discharges,

both directly and indirectly, with major implications for life and healthcare; the electrodynamics of plane-

tary atmospheres (including Earth) has a significant impact on their thermodynamics and chemistry, from

● ● ●

Plasma science is a di-

verse and lively re-

search frontier, with a

wide-ranging and pro-

found impact on UK

strategic science, engi-

neering and industry

● ● ●

P a g e | 5

lightning storms to large-scale ionospheric disturbances that impact

on satellites: particularly when influenced in turn by solar plasma

activity.

Moreover, plasma measurement in such hostile environments is ex-

traordinarily demanding, and acts as a driver for the development of

ever more innovative and sensitive instrumentation. Very often such

extreme conditions can occur on vastly different length scales: from

the nanoscale to the cosmic scale, transport in ionised gases plays a

central role in shaping the evolution of matter from being far from

equilibrium to achieving a measure of stability. The science and ob-

servation of such transitions are critical to understanding matter it-

self and how it might be transformed into functional materials, sta-

ble fusion power, controlled strongly correlated systems or non-

thermal gas-phase chemistry.

Synopsis of UK Plasma Visions

The challenge of cataloguing such multiplicity in application is signifi-

cant: plasma science makes so many underpinning contributions to

an array of fundamental disciplines that often only the major high-

lights are recognised as true plasma activities. This document aims to meet this challenge by cataloguing

the remarkable variety of scientific endeavour that is at the core of plasma research and application, and

constructing a holistic overview not just of activity, but also of imagination and aspiration. Based on ex-

tensive community consultation, this Plasma Visions document presents a snapshot of the current active

research frontiers and how they might evolve over the medium term. Such visions are encapsulated in the

articulation of the scientific challenges that delineate the leading edges of research inquiry, together with

an outline of the stratagems that will enable them to be confronted successfully.

Full details can be found in the appropriate sections of this document, with this section showing a sum-

marised extract for convenience.

Challenges across the plasma frontiers

Among the new challenges across the wide range of plasma activity identified by community consultation

are:

Underpinning the health and strength of UK plasma physics by securing trained staff

Ensuring effective scientific interchange between all plasma scientists and engineers

Preparing for, and studying, fusion physics in future fusion devices such as ITER

Characterising in detail plasma-boundary physics, including tokamak edge physics

Understanding surface evolution resulting from plasma impact, including fragmentation

Quantifying the precise causes and consequences of plasma turbulence

Investigating the novel physics arising from focused laser irradiances > 1023 W/cm2

Achieving ignition in laser-induced inertial fusion

Creating the next generation of high-energy particle accelerators using plasma technology

Investigating the complex interchange between discharge plasmas and liquids

● ● ●

Plasma science plays a

key part into shaping

the strategic scientific

capability of UK re-

searchers, creating the

science leaders for the

future and developing

innovative technologi-

cal solutions to grand

challenges, ranging

from energy to

healthcare.

● ● ●

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Creating novel pulsed-plasma sources for gas activation and ion beam generation

Advancing understanding of the physics of micro-plasma devices

Discovering the reaction mechanisms that enable effective plasma medicine

Harnessing effectively specialist software that can be used for complex plasma modelling

Creating the next generation of plasma measurement devices for extreme environments

Maximising the impact of plasmas across the range of industrial technologies and the life scienc-

es.

Strategies for meeting the challenges

The following suggested activities have been identified as appropriate to meet these challenges: they are

the community expression of the medium-term vision for plasma science in the UK and are summarised in

no particular order of priority:

Expand the pool of trained plasma scientists by (i) sustaining a comprehensive doctoral training

programme; (ii) investing in the research base and facilities to foster career development and

progression; (iii) maintaining sustainable diversity in university plasma groups by more effective

links within the sector, and with research facilities and industry.

Promote maximum interaction between all aspects of fusion and low-temperature plasma sci-

ence, for example in plasma source development for heating beams, plasma-boundary interac-

tions and complex plasmas.

Engage widely and fully with engineers, surface scientists, astrophysicists, life scientists and indus-

trial researchers to ensure the best possible advancement of plasma science across the full range

of applications.

Ensure that the UK has a world-class magnetic confinement device that will allow the UK to main-

tain its global pre-eminence in magnetic confinement fusion (MCF). Completing the MAST up-

grade is an essential step in this process.

Ensure strong UK participation in ITER, with preparatory studies on devices including JET and

MAST.

Develop detailed prototype MCF power-plant designs (DEMO) giving a clear route to the realisa-

tion of fusion power.

Provide a new international-standard magnetised plasma device for basic plasma investigation,

including stability, turbulence and surface interactions for applications across space, technological

plasmas and fusion.

Provide a dedicated long-pulse-capable 10 PW academic facility intermediate between ORION

and HiPER, in order to strengthen the UK’s internationally leading position in inertial confinement

fusion (ICF) and related research.

Create a dedicated high-repetition-rate laser facility (10 Hz, PW level) for laser-driven particle ac-

celerator research and applications.

Create the next generation of high-energy plasma accelerators based on plasma technology.

Create a new low-temperature plasma facility that could draw together scientists and engineers

from a wide range of applications covering surface science, gas- and liquid-phase chemistry and

plasma medicine.

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2 INTRODUCTION This report has the following objectives:

to describe the diverse and high-quality impact of plasma

science on UK strategic research and innovative technologies

to engage the existing community in defining the new chal-

lenges that will sustain excellence

to emphasise the importance of wider engagement with

other scientific disciplines

to identify the general resources needed to meet the current

and future challenges, with increased creativity and ambi-

tion

to communicate the excitement, adventure and value of plasma science to potential researchers,

policy makers, funders and the wider community.

This document aims to encapsulate the innovation, adventure, excellence and impact of plasma science

across a vast range of scientific and engineering frontiers. It is important to note that this document has not

been commissioned by the UK Research Councils or any other funding agency. Rather, it is a plasma commu-

nity expression, coordinated by the learned society. Commissioned documents such as the US Decadal Report

on Plasma Science1 and the RCUK Fusion for Energy Report2 are valuable insights into research strategy and

funding, providing a very helpful additional perspective.

Plasma science and technology engages researchers in fusion energy, laser–plasmas, magnetised plasmas,

surface-generated plasmas, plasma modified surfaces, plasma medicine, plasma waste disposal, plasma

chemistry, plasma welding, plasma etching and deposition, neutral beam productions, microwave

sources, electron-beam–plasma interactions, solar plasmas, plasma lighting, plasma jets, interstellar

plasmas, solar wind, plasma–liquid interfaces, electrostatics, ion implantation, lightning plasmas and so

on.

This report also seeks to identify where the new challenges lie in this broad landscape of plasma science.

It addresses how impact can be delivered in the medium term (5–10 years) and how the capability of

plasma science can be expanded and shaped to meet these new challenges, building on the UK’s world-

class role and leadership in plasma science.

1 Plasma Science: Advancing Knowledge in the National Interest, ISBN 0-309-10944-2, 2007 2 http://www.rcuk.ac.uk/documents/energy/20-yearvision.pdf 2 http://www.rcuk.ac.uk/documents/energy/20-yearvision.pdf

● ● ●

Plasma Visions ... en-

capsulates the innova-

tion, adventure, excel-

lence and impact of

plasma science...

● ● ●

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3 OVERVIEW OF PLASMA SCIENCE The following sections set out sufficient background about the technical and scientific context that the

non-expert can appreciate the report, irrespective of the reader’s scientific or technical background.

3.1 WHAT IS A PLASMA?

A plasma is a gas in which some or all of the atomic or molecular constituents have been ionised by losing

at least one electron. The plasma is therefore an ensemble of neutral and charged species in which the

latter constitute a significant contribution to the global properties of the gas by virtue of their collective

electromagnetic character and altered transport properties.

There are several ways of characterising the kind of plasma under discussion: (i) by the average energy of

the components relative to some appropriate reference energy; (ii) by the number of collisional interac-

tions between charged particles and themselves, charged particles and neutral particles, and neutral par-

ticles and themselves; and (iii) by the relative abundance of charged and neutral particles in an ensemble.

All are valid; each has a context in which it is the preferable definition. For the purposes of this report, the

first definition will be used because of its inherent clarity and intuitive appeal.

As an example of how the collective properties of a plasma are different from the original gas of neutral

particles, consider how the presence of the charged particles (positive ions, free electrons and negative

ions) allows electrical conduction currents to be carried in a plasma: the neutral gas precursor would not

be able to support such currents. Not only does this mean that the electrical characteristics of the plasma

are different from the original neutral gas, but also that other physico-chemical properties are changed:

for instance, the thermal conductivity is improved by the presence of light, mobile particles (the elec-

trons) that can transmit energy more effectively than the original heavier atoms or molecules. In fact, the

mobile electrons contribute significantly to almost all changes in the property of the plasma compared to

the original neutral gas: non-thermal energy transport; Coulomb charging of surfaces exposed to the

plasma; excitation (without ionisation) of neutral atoms or molecules leading to light emission or meta-

stable formation; the stimulation and evolution of waves and instabilities in the global ensemble; and ad-

ditional ionising collisions.

Such properties can be exhibited with as little as 1 part in 108 of the neutral gas ionised. However in fu-

sion plasmas, the presence of neutrals is less significant and such plas-

mas require total ionisation in the fusion-burning region.

3.2 LOW-TEMPERATURE PLASMAS

Low-temperature plasmas are those in which the mean energy of the

most energetic species (usually the electrons) is less than that required

to ensure that all species are ionised (at least to the first ionisation

state). Low-temperature plasmas are usually those in which neutral

species (that is, atoms or molecules that have not been ionised) con-

tinue to play a significant role in energy exchange or transport of the

charged species, via collisions between the plasma components (the

electrons and ions) and the neutral gas molecules or atoms. Such colli-

sional plasmas have diverse technological applications in terrestrial

contexts such as energy-saving lighting, semiconductor etching in the

Atmospheric plasma discharges in air, using a variety of circular elec-trodes. Image courtesy of Hugh Potts (University of Glasgow).

P a g e | 9

microprocessor industry, surface functionalisation (that is, modifying surfaces in order that they have spe-

cific properties such as being hydrophobic or biocidal or diamond-like), surface coating (such as deposit-

ing a polymer layer for a specialised application) and radical production (that is, the creation of chemically

reactive species by electron-moderated physics). An exciting new emerging field of low-temperature

plasmas is the plasma–life-sciences interface, including plasma medicine, where plasmas directly and indi-

rectly (through the plasma–neutral-gas interaction) can influence living cells either by enhancing or inhib-

iting their development.

Low-temperature plasmas are also used to study in detail the properties of the neutral components of the

plasma, using the free electrons to stimulate high-activation energy chemistry in the neutrals, or to cause

the neutrals to emit light by collisions with electrons, or to create ions by electron-impact ionisation (posi-

tive ions) or electron attachment (negative ions) for processing into energetic beams of particles.

Many low-temperature plasmas are created in low-pressure vacuum chambers where a controlled reduc-

tion of the number of particles per unit volume helps the partially ionised plasma to persist by limiting the

inter-particle collisions. High-pressure, low-temperature plasmas can also be formed: plasmas created in

air at atmospheric pressure, for example, can efficiently produce ozone, or sound waves.

Low-temperature plasmas, then, can be primarily defined by the interactions between the neutral and

charged species.

Many astrophysical plasmas are low temperature in the sense discussed here: for example, the solar pho-

tosphere (the visible surface of the Sun) is poorly ionised because the ambient temperature (5,800 K)

does not furnish sufficient energy to ensure that all the neutral gas is converted to free electrons and ions

(mostly protons in the Sun). Low-temperature plasmas are also found in fusion energy: for example,

where the cooler exhaust plasma interacts with wall materials, or where negative ion sources are used to

create neutral beams for additional fusion heating.

3.3 HIGH-TEMPERATURE PLASMAS

In a high-temperature plasma, the mean energy per par-

ticle is sufficient to ensure that the vast majority of the

atoms and molecules are broken up into ions and free

electrons. The consequence is that the bulk properties

of the medium, such as thermal and electrical conductiv-

ities, have virtually no overlap with those of the original

neutral gas and are overwhelmingly dominated by the

electromagnetic character of the charged constituents.

Hence the key concept here is that the medium is over-

whelmingly a gas of free charges, with the result that

the collective electromagnetic character of the plasma

dominates the nearest-neighbour interactions of the

conventional neutral gas. Such energetic plasmas can be

created transiently on Earth by the deposition of very

large amounts of energy into a neutral gas or solid; one

technique uses focused laser light, causing the surface to ablate into neutral particles which are then ion-

ised by the energy field. Where a fully ionised high-temperature plasma is to be sustained in the laborato-

Split image showing an interior view of the JET vacu-

um vessel, with a superimposed image of an actual

JET plasma taken with a visible light camera. Only the

cold edges of the plasma can be seen, since the cen-

tre is so hot that it radiates only in the ultra-violet

part of the spectrum.© EFDA-JET

P a g e | 10

ry, it is usually confined by magnetic fields, since the energetic particles in the plasma will damage mate-

rial walls on contact. There is still usually a vacuum vessel surrounding such plasmas, since they are rarely

at atmospheric pressure.

3.4 MAGNETIC CONFINEMENT FUSION

The scientific and technological goal in MCF is to confine a deuterium–tritium plasma for sufficiently long

periods that the positive ions will fuse together, producing helium and surplus energy in the form of ener-

getic neutrons. The surplus energy so produced will be harnessed to power electrical generators. A key

objective of MCF is to hold the plasma at sufficiently high temperatures (exceeding 100,000,000 K in a

fusion machine such as JET) and plasma densities (although such densities would be only one-millionth of

that of atmospheric air) for a long enough period to make the fusion reactions sufficiently frequent; in

order to achieve this, the plasma must be prevented from touching the vessel walls. A strong magnetic

field is used to guide the very energetic charged particles around in a torus, ensuring that they are re-

tained within the vacuum vessel itself but prevented from encountering the vessel structure: any such

collision would damage and degrade the vessel as well as deplete the plasma reservoir and poison the

remaining plasma with impurity ions.

3.5 LASER–PLASMA INTERACTIONS

Laser–plasma interactions (LPI)This is a diverse

topic with many applications, including ICF and

the generation of secondary sources of radiation.

When high-power lasers are focused onto either a

solid or a gaseous target they will produce plas-

mas through either collisional or direct optical

ionisation. The resulting plasmas are highly tran-

sient and non-equilibrium and are generally dom-

inated by the interactions of fast components of

ions or electrons. These plasmas generally have

very high energy density and so equally can gen-

erate large-amplitude electric and magnetic fields

within the plasma as well as converting energy

efficiently into fast particles and higher-frequency

radiation. These effects are routinely used in ICF, where lasers have been to date the forerunner as driv-

ers for these high-energy and exacting LPI. Recently, with the introduction of super-powerful lasers (at

PW and above), laser–matter studies are now performed at intensities where the plasma electrons move

at relativistic speeds, such that relativistic dynamics becomes vital to understand these interactions. In-

creasingly, this has opened up laser–matter studies to more exotic physics such as radiation damping and

quantum electrodynamic effects. The high energy densities also enable astrophysical phenomena to be

scaled down and explored in the laboratory.

3.6 PLASMA-BASED ACCELERATORS

Plasmas can support huge electric fields, and therefore have great potential for very compact, high-

energy accelerator systems. A relativistic plasma wave generated within a plasma can have electric fields

many of orders of magnitude greater than those in standard particle accelerators. These plasma wake-

Green alignment laser for set-up, optical checks, and training

at the CLF. Image Courtesy of STFC's Central Laser Facility

P a g e | 11

fields may be generated by charge separation produced in the plasma either through the ponderomotive

force on intense short-pulse lasers or by injecting pulses of superdense charged-particle beams (similar to

those found at laboratories such as CERN). The resulting space-chargechargre fields are ideal for accel-

erating electrons to produce highly energetic beams, and accelera-

tion to the GeV scale has already been demonstrated. These types of

beams are increasingly being considered for light source applications

(for example free-electron lasers (FELs) and undulator systems) ow-

ing to their compact size. Alternatively the high energy density of

lasers, or their intense radiation pressure, can be used to either heat

or push denser targets, so that the ions can also be accelerated to

high energies. This offers the possibility of accelerating ions to the

GeV energy scales, but now at high (almost solid) density and in

short pulse duration.

3.7 ASTROPHYSICAL PLASMAS

Plasmas occur naturally in space: stars derive their radiant energy

from fusion reactions in their cores, and contribute to the interstel-

lar plasma by ejecting ionised material from their atmospheres (stel-

lar winds) and photo-ionising ambient neutrals. Stars are normally

accompanied by magnetic fields, and so the interstellar plasma is

both magnetised and at least partially photo-ionised. Strong flows in

such media can lead to the formation of shocks and further ionisa-

tion; moreover, the relatively low densities involved mean low colli-

sionality, and so such plasmas are long-lived. Where the star is ac-

companied by planets, encounters between the stellar plasma and

the planets lead to complex science. The solar system is an example

of the rich variety of plasma phenomena produced by the Sun and

planets: solar flares, coronal mass ejecta, aurorae, bow shocks, cometary plasmas, galactic jets and lunar

charging all contribute to the astrophysical plasma zoo.

When a rather large-sized (M 3.6 class)

flare occurred near the edge of the Sun,

it blew out a gorgeous, waving mass of

erupting plasma that swirled and

twisted over a 90-minute period (Feb.

24, 2011). This event was captured in

extreme ultraviolet light by NASA's

Solar Dynamics Observatory space-

craft. Image courtesy of NASA SDO.

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4 BREADTH AND IMPACT OF PLASMA SCIENCE Plasma science is a multidisciplinary research area with an extraordinarily broad impact. Although the

mainstream plasma areas are readily identified as fusion (both magnetic and inertial confinement), LPI

and low-temperature (or technological) plasmas, plasma science is often a key component of many other

disciplines, including surface physics, spectroscopy, astrophysics, biophysics, nanoscience and space sci-

ence. In order to bring out the influence of plasma science in these many contexts, the following sub-

sections provide details of how plasma science impacts on scientific publications, research funding and

commercial activity.

4.1 OVERVIEW OF PLASMA SCIENCE PUBLICATION DATA

The impact of plasma science in the general scientific literature is substantial. While there are clearly

identified specialist journals that are either wholly dedicated to plasma science or that have plasma sci-

ence as a major sub-theme, there is also a host of less obvious serials in which plasma science articles

form a significant proportion of the total published output. The aim of this section is to quantify this di-

verse impact by highlighting the range and frequency of relevant publications based on plasma science.

For consistency, all figures are taken from the ISI database for the year 2009, in order that published arti-

cle figures are relevant for the same year as the latest citation index data are published. The Thomson

Reuters ISI database of published articles (known also as Web of Knowledge) can be interrogated in terms

of subject area, geographical location of the authors and citation statistics (among other criteria). The fol-

lowing table shows information on the number of plasma-science-based articles in the context of the en-

tire published output across all physics, all astronomy/astrophysics and all relevant sectors of engineering,

with Figures 1 and 2 showing the data in graphical form.

† Subject categories: acoustics; engineering, aerospace; engineering, chemical; engineering, electrical & electronic;

engineering, industrial; engineering, manufacturing; engineering, mechanical; engineering, multidisciplinary

The data show that the number of published articles with plasma science content is 7,239: 4% of the total

novel published content across physics, astronomy and engineering for 2009. Full details of the journals

used in this overview are given in Section 12 of this document.

The quality of the journals publishing plasma articles is also high: the average impact factor (IF) data in Fig

3 show that journals carrying plasma articles have a significantly higher IF than those that do not (note

that average here means the average over all 2009 IF).

Overview of refereed literature for 2009

Topic No. of articles published Average 2009 impact factor

Physics (all areas) 114,581 2.23

Astronomy and astrophysics 14,576 3.17

Engineering† 68,518 1.19

Journals containing plasma articles

61,301 3.37

Plasma science articles 7538

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For journals with an identified plasma sub-theme, plasma articles account for 12% of all articles published

in such journals (Fig 4). Moreover, the US and UK together account for one-third of all published plasma

articles, with the UK alone accounting for 9% of the total global output (Fig 5).

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In summary: it is evident that peer-reviewed research on plasma science contributes significantly to the

total scholarly world output in science and engineering; the journals that carry such articles have uniform-

ly better IFs than the subject-area averages; and finally, the UK contribution to plasma science publica-

tions is more than one-third of the total US plasma science output. These three key conclusions demon-

strate that UK plasma science is significantly influential in global terms.

4.2 SUMMARY OF RCUK AND GOVERNMENT FUNDING SUPPORT

The profile of council funding (since 2006) for plasma, materials, engineering, lasers, biomedical, astro-

physical, etc all relevant to the above themes, covering EPSRC, PPARC/STFC, NERC, BBSRC and charities, is

given here. Full details are provided in Section 13 of this document.

Plasma science has attracted funding across all research councils and research areas.

Grant awards in plasma science areas since 2006 (i.e. the last five years) reflect the diversity of impact of

plasma science. In the recent EPSRC Landscapes document,3 Plasmas, Lasers and Optics as a single entity

within the Physical Sciences Programme was identified as accounting for 10% of the total programme

spend, amounting in value to £30.7m. However, considerable plasma science content is funded across

programmes and themes, a fact that is recognised in the Landscapes documents themselves but not

quantified: in many cases, the databases available on the web contain very useful sub-classifications that

help to characterise the diversity of funded research, but unfortunately grants can be classified under

several areas, resulting in misleading funding sub-totals.

3 EPSRC Landscapes 2009 can be found at http://www.epsrc.ac.uk/research/landscapes/

P a g e | 15

In order to expose the interdisciplinary nature of plasma science, the following data have been compiled

from the Grants on the Web databases across all the research councils, and show the cumulative value of

the grants awarded in the last five years (since 2006) in areas linked to plasma science. Full listings of the

individual grants are available in Section 13; every possible effort has been taken to avoid duplication of

grant counting across disciplinary boundaries. These figures show how pervasive plasma science is across

the physical sciences and engineering.

Differences in the nature of the grants schemes, and the classification criteria, mean that it is impractical

to offer the same level of detailed breakdown as in EPSRC for all other research councils and funders.

EPSRC grand total £54,975,490

Technological plasmas £12,506,136

Laser and fusion plasmas £31,098,066

Surfaces £1,479,546

Analytical science £355,137

Biomaterials £320,234

Energy – nuclear £5,858,958

Light-matter interactions £936,405

Materials characterisation £904,873

others £1,516,135

Note that the EPSRC figures exclude the facility cost of the Culham Centre for Fusion Energy (CCFE) (see

Section 13 on Grant-funded plasma science for details).

Non-EPSRC grand total £22,398,283

NERC £3,208,538

BBSRC £893,202

STFC £17,018,653

Leverhulme Trust £1,277,890

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4.3 EUROPEAN DIMENSION

While the main focus of this report is UK plasma activity, it is useful to

mention briefly the scope of research and development in the rest of

the EU. For example, UK-based researchers perform strongly in win-

ning funding from the European Research Council (ERC), securing over

25% of the total number of ERC Starting Grants and Advanced Re-

search Grants in 2011,4 a remarkable performance given the existence

of major national plasma research facilities in other European coun-

tries, such as CRPP (Lausanne, Switzerland); INP-Greifswald, Ruhr-

Universitat Bochum and the Max Planck Institute for Plasma Physics

(Germany); Alfven Laboratory and Chalmers University of Technology

(Sweden); FOM Institute for Plasma Physics Rijnhuizen and the Tech-

nical University of Eindhoven (Netherlands); and CPAT-UPS Toulouse, CNRS GREMI and LULI (France).

4.4 INDUSTRIAL IMPACT OF PLASMA SCIENCE

It is apparent that there are no simple metrics of the direct impact of plasma industrial or commercial ac-

tivity on the UK economy. However, there are global market data available that are strongly related to the

plasma sector and convey to some extent the significance of plasma activity in the strategically vital hi-

tech component of UK economic activity.

For example, BCC Research5 estimate the following sizes of relevant market sectors:

PVD (physical vapour deposition): $14.8bn by 2013.

Thin-film materials: $14.9bn by 2016, with sputtering and ionic deposition accounting for $7.5bn

of that market by 2016.

Nanotechnology: $2.6 trillion by 2016.

Advanced materials: $38bn in total by 2016.

Ozone treatments: $838m by 2016.

Moreover, the latest UK government forecasts for UK economic activity6 predict huge market opportuni-

ties by the middle of the 2020s: $100bn (approx. £60bn) for nanomaterials, £150–350bn for industrial

biotechnology and £100–150bn for plastic electronics: all markets in which plasma technology can and

does play a major role. This same report lays out key messages that reinforce the need to strengthen and

develop plasma science innovation in the UK: “...strong opportunities for growth in the UK economy

through the 2020s if businesses can harness scientific and industrial capabilities to take advantage of

technology-enabled transformations in manufacturing...”; “Industry, SMEs and research organisations

should be encouraged to work together to develop their own strategies and roadmaps...”. The Plasma

Visions report advances these initiatives by providing an industrial context to plasma activity in the UK to

accompany the research-institution data, and so help promote exchange and co-operation.

4 ERC indicative statistics for 2011 http://erc.europa.eu/statistics 5 BCC Research is a market information supplier: www.bccresearch.com 6 Technology and Innovation Futures: UK Growth Opportunities for the 2020s http://www.bis.gov.uk/foresight/publications

● ● ●

Technology and Inno-

vation Futures Report

... lays out key messag-

es that reinforce the

need to strengthen and

develop plasma science

innovation in the UK

● ● ●

P a g e | 17

5 SPECIFIC DETAILS OF CURRENT UK PLASMA ACTIVITY

5.1 CURRENT STRENGTHS OF UK PLASMA SCIENCE

The following description of the strengths of plasma science in the UK

was offered by the community:

The UK plasma science community currently contributes across the

entire spectrum of activity, embracing theory and experiment, low

and high energy, and ultra-rapid transient science to larger timescales

associated with sustained reactor or astrophysical conditions.

The UK enjoys world-class facilities in the MCF field through the Cul-

ham laboratory (CCFE), in LPI through the Central Laser Facility (CLF)

at the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory (RAL), and in high-energy-

density (HED) plasma activity at the Atomic Weapons Establishment

(AWE). Their scientists and engineers, along with university research-

ers whose studies benefit from these facilities, are among the best in

the world.

A key strength of this activity is the many close links to excellent university groups working in MCF and

LPI, particularly in Imperial College London, Oxford, Queen’s University Belfast (QUB), Strathclyde, War-

wick and York, with experimental work undertaken on large laser systems

at the CLF, RAL and overseas facilities. Imperial College London, QUB and

Strathclyde have medium-to-large laser facilities that are mainly used for

in-house laser–plasma investigations. AWE operate a plasma physics group

largely using lasers to underpin the physics of nuclear weapons. AWE is

constructing a new large laser system (ORION) for plasma research. Mag-

netic fusion work has historically been almost totally concentrated at the

Culham laboratory but is now moving significantly into universities, with

theoretical and experimental research groups emerging at the universities

of Oxford, Warwick and York. Owing to the necessary size of magnetic con-

finement facilities, experimental work is largely undertaken at Culham Sci-

ence Centre, where world-leading facilities (MAST and JET7 ) are being, or

have recently been, upgraded to provide international impact into the

next decade. Small-scale magnetic confinement devices such as the linear

plasma device at York can be used to study particular basic plasma effects.

The central laboratories also provide access to resources required for the

study of astrophysical and geophysical effects. Additionally located in the

universities are strong groups in low-temperature and astrophysical plas-

ma research, including at Bristol, Glasgow, Heriot-Watt, Liverpool, The Open University, QUB, Sheffield, St

Andrews, Strathclyde, Ulster, University of the West of Scotland (UWS), Warwick and York, with several of

these institutions combining astrophysical and geophysical plasma research in the same groups or de-

7 JET is hosted by CCFE on behalf of its European partners.

Vulcan lLA3 tower mirrors "Re-

lay system in the VULCAN laser

chain at the CLF. Top tube

carries VULCAN's petawatt

beamline." Image Courtesy of

STFC's Central Laser Facility

A colour image of a typical plasma

in the Mega Amp Spherical Tokamak

(MAST) fusion device at CCFE. ©

CCFE

P a g e | 18

partments as laboratory plasma investigations. It is important to note that, while the expertise and activi-

ty is world class in the UK, much of the MCF, LPI, ICF and low-temperature experimental and theoretical

plasma research is done in collaboration with other world-class laboratories in the US, Europe and Asia.

5.2 UK PLASMA SCIENCE ACTIVITY: SPECIFIC DETAILS

UK plasma science activity can be summarised in the following sub-sections, with the caveat that this list

may not be fully comprehensive at the time of publication.

5.2.1 LOW-TEMPERATURE PLASMAS:

Several expert groups in the UK are involved in technological plasma applications, such as anisotropic

etching and deposition of materials for semiconductor applications, exhaust-gas remediation, specialist

surface coating, surface functionalisation, novel carbon compounds (such as diamond-like carbon and

carbon nanotube carpets), plus germicidal applications such as surface decontamination. Research activity

here also encompasses: recombination and detachment in tokamak edge plasmas; plasma–surface inter-

actions, including complex plasmas (that is, plasma–particulate interactions including dusty plasmas and

plasma crystals); ion impact physics (including etching, deposition, ion implantation and surface adsorp-

tion); neutral gas activation via the generation of metastables and radicals; and plasma lighting. Electron-

beam–plasma interactions bridge the gap between technological plasmas and fusion: microwave instabili-

ties in electron beams have produced breakthroughs in novel wideband amplifiers and tuneable high-

frequency oscillators based on the cyclotron resonance maser (CRM) instability, with applications in fu-

sion science, radar, medicine and biochemical spectroscopy. Novel research into multidimensional feed-

back systems have produced world-record pulse energy and power at 37 GHz. Major research pro-

grammes are investigating geophysical CRM and non-thermal instabilities in fusion plasmas by scaled la-

boratory and numerical simulation. This work requires a novel capability in low-temperature plasmas.

Other low-temperature and low-pressure plasma research encompasses work on pseudospark discharges

for electron and ion beam generation. An exciting new interdisciplinary field in low-temperature plasmas

is the life-sciences interface, including plasma medicine. This brings together researchers from plasma

science, biology and medicine to address issues ranging from biocidal treatments and sterilisation to bio-

compatible surface treatments for implants, and encompassing novel medical procedures.

Working in vacuum is not always appropriate for technological and industrial plasma applications; the UK

is establishing a strong reputation in atmospheric-pressure discharges,

including microdischarge arrays suitable for large surface-area pro-

cessing.

Finally, ultra-low-energy plasmas and electron swarms are used to

probe molecular reactivities and bond properties, as well as activation

cross-sections, and so provide vital fundamental datasets.

5.2.2 PULSED-POWER-DRIVEN PLASMAS:

Experiments and simulations of pulsed-power-driven plasmas is thriv-

ing, primarily through the MAGPIE Z-pinch group at Imperial College

London. Dense Z-pinches complement lasers as a means to produce

HED plasmas and have led to significant research in high-power X-ray

sources and laboratory astrophysics. Theoretical and experimental work

on atomic- and radiation physics in plasmas under extreme conditions is

Strathclyde laboratory plasma ex-

periment simulating an auroral kil-

ometric radiation source (University

of Strathclyde).

P a g e | 19

strong in the UK.

5.2.3 RF AND MICROWAVE PLASMAS:

Experimental investigation of microwave instabilities in electron beams is leading to pioneering break-

throughs in novel wideband amplifiers and tuneable high-frequency oscillators based on the CRM instabil-

ity, with applications in fusion science, radar, medicine and biochemical spectroscopy.

5.2.4 LASER–PLASMA INTERACTIONS:

The LPI research area is a comprehensive experimental and theoretical activity which proceeds in a coor-

dinated programme of investigation, in tandem with international collaborators and facilities. The main

experimental facilities for academic use are housed in the

STFC CLF, and include the Vulcan petawatt laser and the

high-power, ultra-short-pulse laser Astra (with its extension,

Astra Gemini). There is also the newly commissioned ORION

laser facility at AWE, used primarily in pursuit of AWE de-

fence goals, but which is open to academic use for suitable

projects. In this document, LPI is a broad research descrip-

tion that covers the physics of ICF in addition to more gen-

eral laser–plasma interactions.

Much LPI research is motivated by outstanding issues in ICF

– particularly with newer variants such as fast ignition and

shock ignition – or focused on other prominent applications

including warm dense matter. Numerical simulation and

theory play crucial roles in LPI too: there is significant effort

on the use and development of kinetic simulation codes such as particle-in-cell and Vlasov–Fokker–Planck

techniques that proceed in tandem with analytical theories.

Among the relevant current LPI research activities are:

Investigation of fast electron energy transport and the physics of colliding shocks in the presence

of background magnetic fields.

The development of computational models of high-temperature material properties (i.e. atomic

physics, equations-of-state, material strength, particle and photon transport, etc) and radiation

hydrodynamics.

The design, execution, analysis and publication of HED experiments on high-power lasers and

pulsed-power machines to study material properties, radiation hydrodynamics, nuclear physics,

laboratory astrophysics and ICF.

The generation of energetic charged particles and photons from ultra-high-intensity LPI.

Compact electron accelerators and the generation of high-quality ion and proton beams for med-

ical, radiographic and other uses.

The compression of matter under high-power, short-pulse LPI has relevance for astrophysics, in

that extreme densities and particle energies can be achieved that begin to approach some highly

energetic astrophysical contexts such as planetary and stellar interiors, and extreme electromag-

netic environments.

5.2.5 MAGNETIC CONFINEMENT FUSION:

Installation of the compression gratings for one

of the two “short-pulse” beam lines on ORION.

Each is capable of delivering 500 Js in 400 pico-

seconds and will typically be use for the rapid

heating of targets to extreme temperatures. ©

British Crown Owned Copyright 2012 /AWE

P a g e | 20

MCF research in the UK is predominantly conducted at the CCFE, with a number of university groups hav-

ing strong collaborative and significant complementary programmes. CCFE and associated universities

provide a world-class centre for fusion research, with CCFE being home to the JET8 and MAST devices,

which are internationally leading tokamaks and are a key component of the CCFE research activity. CCFE

has many strong links to university groups in the UK and overseas, and its experimental programme has a

worldwide reputation for excellence. The UK MCF community (CCFE and associated universities) is at the

forefront of a range of fundamental experimental investigations, including:

the structure of edge localised instabilities (ELMs)

the development of leading-edge plasma diagnostics

the study of advanced divertor solutions for handling high exhaust powers

creating more efficient neutral beam heating for MAST

the investigation of ITER-like wall materials for future ITER operation

participating in the JET research programme.

There is also an extensive research effort in plasma theory and numerical simulation, supporting the ex-

perimental programme, and covering (among other aspects):

calculating self-consistent equilibrium profiles of

tokamak plasmas and their stability

modelling the stability and evolution of magneto-

hydrodynamic (MHD) instabilities and of edge lo-

calised modes (ELMs)

mitigation of heat loads associated with ELMs

modelling the influence of 3D effects on microwave

propagation

random wave theory

plasma turbulence, including large-scale gyrokinet-

ic simulations

plasma-beam interactions

heating and current drive

fast-ion physics: confinement and nonlinear self-

consistent stability modelling

modelling the flow of heat through the plasma

boundary to the scrape-off layer.

Dust transport in MCF plasmas is another major research

topic (predominantly led by universities) essential for understanding the technological functioning of con-

finement vessel perimeters: these are the locations where the plasma becomes cooler, touching control

surfaces and mixing with neutral gas. This activity, together with the scrape-off layer and divertor re-

search areas, has links to low-temperature plasma–surface interaction research, and is a clear example of

8 CCFE is responsible for the operation of the JET facilities under the European Fusion Development Agreement.

This figure shows contours of electrostatic poten-

tial fluctuations in an annular region of plasma at

mid-radius in the MAST tokamak. These fluctua-

tions are from local gyrokinetic simulations of the

saturated state of electron temperature gradient

driven turbulence. The visualisation has been im-

proved by removing a wedge of plasma to viewthe

nature of fluctuations inside the annulus, and by

artificially increasing perturbation wavelengths

perpendicular to the magnetic field.Image courtesy

of CCFEPublished with the permission of the Con-

troller of Her Britannic Majesty's Stationery Office.

P a g e | 21

how the different areas of plasma science are intimately linked, even if the main themes appear rather

disparate. Moreover, many of the basic principles also apply to the astrophysical plasma context.

5.2.6 PLASMA ASTROPHYSICS:

There is a wide-ranging programme of fundamental research into many astrophysical plasma contexts,

spanning a vast array of energy and density conditions. Much of the UK activity is undertaken in an inter-

national collaborative context, since facilities are shared. Research in this category embraces:

ionospheric plasma physics using ground-based instrumentation (radar arrays, microwave heating

antennae, electrostatic and infrasound detectors)

space plasmas – properties of collisionless plasmas observed in the Earth’s magnetosphere and

solar wind, and processes such as:

o magnetic reconnection

o magnetospheric waves

o collisionless shocks and turbulence

o particle acceleration

o wave–particle interactions

o sprites, elves and transient luminous events

solar plasmas – remote sensing of plasma processes:

o flares, including particle acceleration and energy release

o waves and wave–particle interactions

o solar coronal heating

o coronal mass ejections

o solar wind production

planetary and cometary plasmas: interaction of other planets and comets with the solar wind (Ju-

piter, Saturn, Mars, Mercury, Venus)

stellar plasmas, including energetic processes in pulsar magnetospheres

cosmic-scale plasmas such as the recombination and ionisation eras.

6 NEW CHALLENGES IN PLASMA SCIENCE Plasma science is developing rapidly across many scientific fron-

tiers, providing vital scientific underpinning, and enabling advanc-

es in diverse research frontiers. In order to calibrate the vision for

UK plasma physics, new research developments that are likely to

form the main challenges in plasma science over the next 5–10

years are described in the following sections, whether or not such

activities originate or are based exclusively in the UK.

6.1 LOW-TEMPERATURE, PARTIALLY IONISED AND COMPLEX

PLASMAS

This area is traditionally associated with technological applications,

and while it is mostly true that plasmas used for surface treatment

or other industrial applications are relatively cool and partially ion-

ised, it does not present the whole picture.

Transparent Cathode Plasma Source:

Argon, 300 mtorr pressure, 3cm inner

cathode, 250V.Image courtesy of Open

University.

P a g e | 22

As mentioned in sections 5.24 on LPI and 5.25 on MCF, much of the most interesting and challenging

physics arises at the plasma boundary, where the temperature is not extreme, and a cooled surface may

be encountered. Such locations are also where neutral, fresh fuel is introduced to the plasma, and spent

gases are removed.

Critical issues that span fusion and plasma–surface interactions in general are: (i) the coupling between

neutral and ionised gases; (ii) evolution of the sheath structure around surfaces in direct contact with the

plasma; (iii) surface–plasma interactions as energetic plasma and neutrals bombard the plasma-facing

surface in the presence of neutral gas and magnetic fields, acquiring charge and adsorbing species (par-

ticularly tritium in the case of fusion); and (iv) effect of surface ablation and consequent presence of dust

particles in the plasma. In the case of fusion, this ablation injects into the tokamak plasma microparticles

(dust) that can be carrying significant amounts of surface charge and adsorbed tritium – this is a key re-

search area for ITER, which will benefit from a more complete understanding of complex or dusty plasmas

(it will also be important for technological and space plasmas).

Negative ion beam technology is a new and growing area in which low-temperature plasmas (specifically,

plasmas in which the mean electron energy is very low) create negatively charged ions by attaching an

extra electron to a neutral atom or molecule. Such particles can then be accelerated to significant ener-

gies by applied electric fields and then efficiently neutralised, producing an energetic beam of neutral par-

ticles with a variety of technological applications, including etching, implantation, satellite thrusters and

direct injection into fusion plasmas.

Neutral beam injection heating systems in MCF require negative ion beam technology to achieve this en-

hanced performance in ITER, and the creation of negative ions needs low-temperature plasma sources to

be newly tailored to meet these demands. For example, ITER requires 50 MW steady-state beams of

1 MeV neutrals, representing a major capacity increase on the current system on JET (5.2 MW, 0.35 MeV

for 0.8 s).

Plasma–liquid interfaces are a new and growing area of low-temperature plasma research that embraces

liquid–gas chemistry, bubble discharges and deformable electrodes. Such plasmas have been used to pro-

duce novel stone-drilling machines, novel coatings on colloidal particles and a host of medical and life-

sciences applications, from electrosurgery to biocidal treatments, where the living cells normally have a

liquid barrier between the cell wall and the gaseous environ-

ment.

Plasma discharges can also play a key role in improving aerody-

namic efficiency of aircraft: a partially ionised plasma layer

along an aerofoil inhibits flow detachment, and reduces the

negative impact of turbulence on aerodynamic lift. This could

be created from an array of micro-plasmas, for example. Under-

standing and diagnosing arrays of small-scale atmospheric-

pressure plasma systems is a significant challenge that must be

addressed if the technological impact of such devices is to be

fully realised.


As MCF enters the ITER era and takes into account the detailed

Three dimensional contour plot of charge

density showing typical structure of the

charged-particle avalanche that forms in a

nanosecond during the electrical breakdown

of air (MacLachlan, Thesis, University of

Glasgow 2009)

P a g e | 23

designs of prototype power plants (DEMO) and components test facilities (CTF), an array of challenges will

need to be addressed. These range from finding optimal plasma regimes to the materials and technology

demands faced by fusion (both ICF and MCF), with selected outstanding plasma science issues summa-

rised in the following bullet points (other materials and engineering challenges are not addressed here):

Plasma confinement, stability and control continues to dominate the science in this area, with the

aim of finding regimes that are viable for economic electricity generation. Control in particular will

become very challenging in the steady-state conditions of DEMO, where limited control actuators

and sensors are available.

Turbulence is implicated in the confinement properties of fusion plasma: this nonlinear mecha-

nism has a major effect on plasma transport, particularly at the edges of the plasma, near the

control surfaces. Quantifying the precise causes and consequences of plasma turbulence is one of

the major MCF challenges; indeed many of the outstanding scientific questions in this context are

in the region near the plasma edge where strong improvements to energy confinement can occur

(the so-called H-mode).

Plasma eruptions known as ELMs must be understood and controlled or they will cause excessive

erosion to ITER components. ELM control methods are being tested on both MAST and JET.

ITER plasmas will have a large fraction of energetic particles from the fusion reactions, and under-

standing the interaction between these and the thermal plasma will be a central modelling and

experimental task. Predictive modelling of the burning ITER plasmas far from thermal equilibrium

will be a major challenge in the near future.

Plasma–surface interaction physics will become increasingly important for understanding the im-

pact of both steady and transient heat loads. Minimising the damage to plasma-facing edge com-

ponents is a major challenge for tokamak operations: just one aspect in which tokamak edge

physics will become one of the dominant research themes.

The exhaust of power and particles, and of fused fuel, and its replacement with fresh D-T sup-

plies: the new “super-X divertor” plasma exhaust system (part of the MAST upgrade) will create

an experimental plasma environment that is appropriate for exploring these plasma-edge interac-

tions and how to minimise their effects.

In terms of materials science, pioneering work is occurring at CCFE and in the universities on the ab initio

understanding of neutron damage to materials. This gives a firm basis for the future design of neutron

tolerant materials. CCFE also leads in developing activation cross-section databases, neutronics codes and

tools to evaluate activation. These are key to ITER and DEMO design issues. There are many other major

technological challenges which are outside the scope of this document.

6.3 LASER–PLASMA INTERACTIONS

Opportunities for new research in the laser–plasma area will be enabled by the development of new laser

facilities such as the 10 PW laser at the CLF and the Extreme Light Infrastructure (ELI) laser developments

in the Czech Republic, Hungary and Romania. These lasers will push focused irradiances to new levels

(> 1023 Wcm2) where completely novel physics is possible: the relativistic proton-quiver regime. This re-

gime is expected to yield a significant step-change in progress and make possible new applications, in a

similar way to the relativistic electron-quiver regime 20 years ago. Important future developments in-

clude: (i) proton and ion acceleration to energies suitable for medical applications; (ii) acceleration of

electrons beyond 50 GeV; (iii) high-field non-linear quantum electrodynamic experiments (electron–

P a g e | 24

positron plasmas, vacuum birefringence) in which the vacuum is disrupted; and (iv) nuclear physics with

lasers.

Inertial fusion energy (IFE) will develop using the National

Ignition Facility (NIF) laser project in the US so that, for ex-

ample, experiments with high neutron and X-ray flux can be

envisaged. Fusion ignition with hohlraum indirect drive at

NIF is expected to be achieved by 2012. Fast-ignition fusion

research should advance, as indeed should shock ignition,

particularly if the HiPER project is funded. There is a high

level of technology overlap of HiPER with the ELI work as

both high irradiance and laser fusion require high-

repetition-rate lasing (using diode pumping technology),

and the high irradiance is likely to be relevant to the neces-

sary ignition beam physics. The UK is well positioned to be

closely involved with all these developments owing to its

present high profile in the research areas.

The goal of developing IFE into a viable energy generation scheme requires the development of at least

three research activities:

Advanced concepts with much higher gain. Routes to this, such as “fast ignition”, “shock ignition”

and “magneto inertial fusion” are under investigation. Accurate numerical modelling of these

schemes is challenging and requires more development.

High-power, high-repetition-rate laser systems. In tandem with this, development of other drivers

(e.g. Z-pinches and heavy ion beams) would open up more possibilities, e.g. “magnetised target

fusion” – intermediate between conventional ICF and MCF.

Research into the economical mass-production of ICF targets. The fabrication of ICF targets re-

quires extreme manufacturing precision of complex targets, often at cryogenic temperatures. Any

commercial plant will require around 1 million targets per day, and the economical production of

these requires development and optimisation of processes that are currently the preserve of spe-

cialist laboratories.

6.4 PLASMA MEASUREMENT

Central to both experiment and theory is the accurate measurement of key plasma parameters across all

plasma types. From low to high temperature and pressure, from small bounded plasmas to large astro-

physical ones, plasma diagnosis remains a formidable challenge. For example, measuring the plasma pa-

rameters in the extreme environment of a fusion device such as DEMO (beyond ITER) will require a signif-

icant advance on conventional techniques, while probing small-scale atmospheric-pressure micro-plasma

systems presents a different set of complex challenges.

A new generation of measurement devices and strategies must be developed to meet the new require-

ments posed by plasmas under extreme conditions: from the very small (such as micro-discharges) to the

ultra-energetic (pair plasmas), the required precision in plasma characterisation demands novel ap-

proaches. Progress in key measurement areas is required to match general experimental capacity, includ-

ing: (i) enhanced understanding of plasma probes, especially in high magnetic fields; (ii) development of

The state-of-the-art broad-band laser developed

to seed the VULCAN 10PW upgrade in its devel-

opment laboratory at the CLF. Image Courtesy

of STFC's Central Laser Facility

P a g e | 25

THz band sources for enhanced diagnostics; (iii) creation of novel microwave generators for industrial and

scientific applications; (iv) evolution of more sensitive, spatially resolved electron density measurement

via resonant (hairpin) probes; (v) harnessing of nano-structured electrode surfaces for plasma capacitance

and charge measurement; and (vi) spatially and temporally resolved turbulence, plasma flow and ion

temperature measurements.

6.5 NUMERICAL MODELLING OF PLASMA EVOLUTION

Progress in advanced experimentation must proceed in tandem with advances in numerical simulation,

since plasma modelling will assist the practical exploration in understanding the essential physics, and

extrapolating to design new devices and applications.

There are exciting advances in computational modelling

that will allow real progress to be made. Hybrid fluid and

kinetic models show real promise in describing mixed

systems with diverse properties, and have huge potential

to help model burning fusion plasmas.

Modelling of plasma turbulence is starting to become

possible as new computational techniques are developed

and new hardware emerges. Challenges in this field in-

clude modelling the turbulence near the plasma bounda-

ry, such as bifurcations to low turbulence states in toka-

maks, the interaction of small-scale turbulence and larger-

scale structures, and making measurements of turbulence in

plasmas to test the models. Such measurements could be

made in lab-based plasma facilities and in space plasmas

using satellites; the combination could provide strong validation of the basic science covered by turbu-

lence codes.

Plasma chemistry influences the physics of plasmas and poses extraordinary challenges to modelling and

simulation, not just because of the complexity of possible reaction chains (the chemical kinetics), but also

because of the dependence of electron-moderated reactions to the detailed distribution of electrons in

energy space (the physical kinetics). Plasmas have the unique capacity to stimulate molecular interactions

in a non-thermal fashion, allowing high-activation energy chemistry to proceed even at room temperature

(with a host of exciting applications).

Surface reaction simulations have become more ambitious as molecular dynamics codes grow in sophisti-

cation, allowing the modelling of surface growth and crystallisation in the presence of inhomogeneous

chemistry (atom implantation). Incorporating the arrival at a surface of the charged species and excited

neutrals (perhaps metastables) that are characteristic of a plasma–surface interaction, together with a

large-scale electric or magnetic field, poses new challenges to this whole area.

All these activities are increasingly making extensive use of high-performance computer systems (i.e. su-

percomputers), and in many cases continuing development will require access to the largest, state-of-the-

art computational facilities.


The figure illustrates the pronounced dynamics

of excited helium metastable species in the dis-

charge gap of a radio-frequency driven Helium-

Oxygen plasma. Image courtesy of York Plasma

Institute.

P a g e | 26

ESA’s Solar Orbiter mission will bring extraordinary new satel-

lite measurements of solar phenomena that will offer new in-

sight into how the Sun creates and controls the heliosphere,

approaching closer to the Sun than any previous mission to

allow unprecedented investigation of how the Sun generates

and propels the solar wind. Solar Orbiter is only one of a num-

ber of spacecraft that will be launched in the next five years to

target plasma measurement in space. For example: ESA’s Ro-

setta will concentrate on cometary physics, including come-

tary plasmas; NASA’s Magnetospheric Multiscale Mission will

perform in situ magnetospheric plasma measurements in the

Earth’s magnetosphere; and TARANIS is a French (CNES) mis-

sion to study the physics of transient luminous events (also

called sprites, elves or blue jets) that are short-lived phe-

nomena which produce intense, energetic radiation as a con-

sequence of violent lightning strikes in large thunderstorms.

Continuing with the theme of extreme energy event detec-

tion, the Cerenkov Telescope Array will probe the non-

thermal TeV radiation universe, offering a unique insight into

the universe’s most energetic plasma events. Combining

space and astrophysical plasma measurements with laboratory measurements is likely to yield valuable

additional information about basic plasma science phenomena such as turbulence and reconnection,

benefitting all plasma sectors.

7 MEETING THE CHALLENGES: RESOURCES, SYNERGIES AND OPPORTUNITIES Having established that there are new and exciting challenges ahead, the community was invited to iden-

tify the most appropriate resources required in the UK to help scientists meet these new challenges, and

where there might be synergies with other disciplines that could lead to mutual gain.

7.1 GENERAL REMARKS

As a general comment, it is appreciated that there is limited scope for non-RCUK support of research in

some plasma areas, particularly fusion; although the MoD can offer some facilities via AWE, the scope for

non-MoD research is understandably limited. Hence most of the innovative facilities in the general area of

fusion are expected to be funded centrally.

Moreover, the importance of a pool of trained personnel is a recurring theme. Significant emphasis is

placed on having a well-resourced team of scientists that is both comprehensively trained and adequately

resourced, so that the UK plasma communities can be fully engaged with the identified challenges and

opportunities. It is particularly important that newly trained plasma scientists believe that it is possible to

build a career pursuing their appropriate plasma discipline: it is therefore vital that the strategic im-

portance of plasma science to the UK economy and science base is recognised by providing the capacity

that will allow growth in applications and scientific developments to be matched by an expansion in per-

sonnel engaged in such activities. There is a particular need when considering UK participation in multina-

tional collaborations on future large facilities, in which the key research contribution may be predomi-

nantly designing new systems or techniques. The UK must maintain a critical mass of trained scientists

Auroras happen when ions in the solar wind

collide with atoms of oxygen and nitrogen in

the upper atmosphere. The atoms are excited

by these collisions, and they typically emit light

as they return to their original energy level. The

light creates the aurora that we see. The most

commonly observed color of aurora is green,

caused by light emitted by excited oxygen at-

oms at wavelengths centered at 0.558 mi-

crometers, or millionths of a meter. Image

taken by ISS Expedition 23 crew, astronaut

photograph ISS023-E-58455, courtesy of NASA.

P a g e | 27

engaged with such collaborative design activities if it is to play a key

role in the construction and implementation of any future proposals

that arise: a diminishing input to the creative research planning in-

evitably leads to a reduced participation in the eventual facility, with

negative consequences for the UK’s capacity to attract and retain

appropriate talent and exploit invention and discovery.

Retired plasma physicists are an extraordinarily valuable asset and

should not be overlooked in considering the personnel base. While

it is vital to develop and encourage new talent, it is just as important

to make best use of the highly experienced scientists who have left

full-time employment.

One aspect of plasma science that should not be overlooked is engagement with industry, and the com-

mercialisation of intellectual property (IP) or invention. Industrial plasma activity is necessarily sensitive

about sharing innovation – understandably so. However, this should not lead to the effective exclusion of

industrial practitioners from conferences and workshops:

recognising and allowing for the understandable asymmetry

in the position of industry in respect of knowledge exchange

may help to translate more of the community applications

into commercial reality. This process can be aided consider-

ably if the initial costs of registering IP in patent applications

is reduced or eliminated if that IP originates from university

researchers. In a recent Foresight report from the Govern-

ment Office for Science9 it is acknowledged that the “...UK is

a leading producer of knowledge...” and that “industry, SMEs and research organisations should be en-

couraged to work together to develop their own strategies and roadmaps”. Plasma science is an ideal ve-

hicle for realising this strategy, and the communities should be encouraged to engage through confer-

ences, workshops and participation in learned society activities.

An indicative guide to plasma industry currently trading in the UK and Ireland is included in Section 11 of

this document.

For more specific strategies, it is best to subdivide the responses in terms of the broad categories of plas-

ma activity.

7.2 LOW-TEMPERATURE PLASMAS

As will be discussed in Section 7.4 on MCF, increased access to the main fusion facilities will benefit both

low temperature plasma science and MCF communities, especially the new opportunities provided by the

new MAST Super-X divertor. However, the non-fusion research areas of low-temperature plasma science

are so diverse that there is a case for a general national facility which would be sufficiently flexible that it

could satisfy a number of essential activities in fundamental plasmas with a collaborative effort ranging

9 Technology and Innovation Futures: UK Growth Opportunities for the 2020s http://www.bis.gov.uk/foresight/publications

Electron-beam generated plasma: a table-top

aurora (University of Strathclyde).

● ● ●

Industry, SMEs and re-

search organisations

should be encouraged

to work together ...

plasma science is an

ideal vehicle

● ● ●

P a g e | 28

across not just the whole plasma community but also life sciences and health. Such a facility could be

staffed on a rotating basis by scientists seconded from participating institutions, with a core staff respon-

sible for maintaining experimental areas and basic equipment provision (or even coordinating research

equipment pooling). Among its activities could be: the development of advanced plasma diagnostics suit-

able for fusion and non-fusion alike; a world-class linear system for basic plasma instability and turbulence

investigation; an advanced beam production capability, based on negative ions for both fusion injection

and specialised etching applications; and a life-sciences interface where interdisciplinary projects could

address outstanding issues in plasma medicine. Thus, such a facility would advance many of the challeng-

es identified in Section 6.

7.3 LASER–PLASMA INTERACTIONS AND INERTIAL FUSION

The challenges here are best met with dedicated facilities that would underline the UK’s commitment to

ICF and hot, dense plasma conditions. Academic access to the new ORION laser at AWE will also be very

helpful in addressing the creation of a long-pulse-capable facility for academia, and this is part of AWE’s

and MoD’s overall strategy. However, there is a strong case for a dedicated academic long-pulse-capable

facility intermediate between ORION and HiPER, in order to strengthen the UK’s position in ICF. Combin-

ing circa 30 kJ of long-pulse with a 10 PW laser would provide a unique facility.

Specifically, it is clear that the Astra Gemini laser, the 10 PW Vulcan laser facilities at the CLF and the in-

ternational ELI project will enable exciting and valuable new research. Ideally a still more powerful system

(> 100 PW) is needed in the longer term. The next step in IFE would be to test ignition itself, and such a

laser system has been proposed by HiPER, a European-wide consortium principally led from the UK. HiPER

would be a > 200 kJ drive laser, with a coupled multi-kJ short-pulse laser for ignition.

There is also a case for providing a high-repetition-rate laser system of the size of Gemini in terms of

power that can be used for laser-driven particle accelerator research and applications, catering particular-

ly for the MeV range (e, ions, gammas) in much the same way Artemis caters for the keV range of studies.

Such a facility would match the numerous projects for high-rep-rate accelerators that have been funded

around the world, such as the BELLA proposal in the US ($20m), which aims to have GeV electron beams

at ≥ 10 Hz.


Like ICF, MCF also requires large, dedicated facilities. Of course, UK researchers will benefit significantly

from involvement in ITER as it becomes operational. The present Horizon 2020 proposal provides for con-

tinued JET operation, which will be key to rapid optimisation of ITER performance. MAST-Upgrade is vital-

ly important for fusion research in the UK, and it is encouraging that it is on track to be fully developed.

Ensuring continuing support for MAST-Upgrade as a user facility allows the UK fusion community to do

world-class research on various aspects of magnetic fusion. Having a sufficiently large, flexible and well-

enough funded tokamak for fusion plasma experiments would allow new concepts for confinement and

plasma control to be tested and developed in the UK, thus ensuring maximum impact of UK research on

the international magnetic fusion effort. Increased academic involvement could be achieved by develop-

ing state-of-the-art diagnostics at university sites, to be subsequently installed on MAST for experiments

(for example, the University of York already has significant diagnostics on MAST and a remote control

room). This would be part of a desirable general increase in accessibility to fusion-related facilities for the

academic community, which will help drive innovation and broader scientific engagement. For example,

P a g e | 29

projects such as diagnostic development, plasma source innovation and novel techniques in neutral beam

production could benefit all scientists involved in both fusion and low-temperature plasmas. The mutual

gain here will drive increased technology and scientific exchange across all organisations involved (CCFE

and the universities), building a reserve of trained staff and laboratory facilities that can be used to push

research across several fronts (fusion and non-fusion).

The UK lacks an international-standard magnetised plasma device for basic plasma studies. Such a device

would foster closer interactions across the UK plasma community, addressing fundamental plasma phys-

ics challenges across a range of plasma disciplines: space and astrophysics, technological plasmas, solar

plasmas and fusion. An example of one such device is a linear machine that produces quiescent, steady-

state, magnetically confined and collisionless plasmas especially suited to fundamental plasma studies

(such as instabilities, anomalous transport, feedback control). It may be possible to combined the re-

quirements of this facility with those of the facility identified in 7.2 to provide a single, flexible national

resource that can address a broad range of basic plasma phenomena.


There is considerable scope to explore astrophysically relevant plasma conditions within the fusion and

laboratory plasma environment, particularly in the light of the plasma frontiers identified by the commu-

nity at large. Of particular interest are the new astrophysical instruments such as Solar Orbiter and the

proposed Cerenkov Telescope Array, each of which will offer unprecedented insight into plasma process-

es under extreme conditions, dovetailing neatly with the dense, hot plasma generated in LPI experiments,

and the magnetic stability investigations in magnetic fusion. Other overlapping astrophysical research in-

cludes surface (dust) interactions with partially ionised media, relevant to planetary environments as well

as interstellar dust clouds: the resonance with dusty or complex plasmas in the laboratory is clear.

Most of the resource and opportunity here lies in efficient engagement between the communities, ensur-

ing that knowledge and expertise are shared to mutual gain not just for interpretation of phenomena of

current interest, but also in designing new investigations that can ensure the maximum gain from invest-

ment in plasma science. Consequently, there should be a sustained background effort to bring together

the terrestrial (fusion and non-fusion), geophysical (magnetospheric, planetary) and astrophysical (solar

and space science) plasma communities.

This could mean greater scientific exchanges across the communities with facilities such as EISCAT, ORION

and any proposed linear system, so that the different perspectives can contribute more efficiently to the

general advancement of plasma science.

7.6 PLASMA MODELLING

Numerical methods are becoming increasingly important in plasma science, including large-scale fluid and

kinetic models. It is essential for plasma research that the UK’s academic high-end-computing capability

(HECToR and formerly HPCx) continues to be developed and that the plasma community is able to access

a useful fraction of the resource. The Collaborative Computational Project for Plasma Physics (CCPP) plays

an essential role in securing access to facilities such as HECToR and needs to be maintained. As well as

access to facilities, CCPP provides an extremely useful framework for collaborating and exchanging ideas

across the sub-fields of plasma science. The top-end facilities are oversubscribed, and a more modest

high-performance computer system dedicated to the plasma physics community would be an extremely

valuable resource for increasing the capabilities of numerical research. Hardware provision is only one

P a g e | 30

aspect of the requirement: there also needs to be investment in software for plasma simulation, together

with the requisite support, that will enable HPC to be exploited fully in support of the whole gamut of

plasma science, from high-energy fusion to applications in plasma medicine. The pooling of existing simu-

lation codes can address part of this requirement, with the remainder constituting the provision of com-

mercially sourced software such as VORPAL and COMSOL, where individual institutional licences may

over-stretch the resources of smaller groups; however, access to such packages can be enormously valua-

ble in terms of research efficiency and productivity.

7.7 ANTICIPATED SYNERGIES

It is clear from the preceding analysis that there are significant continuing and new opportunities to en-

gage with research communities outside the “traditional” plasma areas, in pursuit of the fresh research

challenges that constitute the vision for plasma science. Underlining the enduring and expanding impact

that plasma science has across the comprehensive range of physical, engineering and life sciences, it is

anticipated that synergies with the following research areas will feature strongly in the medium term: (i)

surface science and engineering, including functionalisation, surface catalysis, ion implantation, crystalli-

sation and surface ablation; (ii) life sciences, including living-cell electrostatics, radical production and

cell–surface interactions; (iii) gaseous and liquid chemistry, including gas decomposition, liquid–plasma

interfaces and ion transport; and (iv) astrophysics, including particle acceleration, radiation mechanisms

and the properties of extreme plasma densities and fields.

P a g e | 31

8 SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION SOURCES

The documents listed below provide valuable supplementary information relevant to this report.

Further information on the CCFE programme can be found at http://www.ccfe.ac.uk/, including the annu-

al reports (http://www.ccfe.ac.uk/annual_reports.aspx).

Details on the EURATOM fusion programme are available at

http://ec.europa.eu/research/energy/euratom/fusion/at-a-glance/index_en.htm.

The RCUK report on Energy for a Low Carbon Future can be found at

http://www.rcuk.ac.uk/documents/energy/20-yearvision.pdf.

AWE annual reports and policies can be found at http://www.awe.co.uk/publications.html.

CLF annual reports can be found at http://www.clf.rl.ac.uk/Publications/12000.aspx.

The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills Foresight report on technology and innovation futures

can be found at http://www.bis.gov.uk/foresight/our-work/horizon-scanning-centre/technology-and-

innovation-futures/.

P a g e | 32

9 GLOSSARY OF TERMS

Biocidal Describes the property of a surface that has been configured to destroy or repel microbial contamination: the surface inherently possesses the properties of a disinfectant.

DEMO Demonstration MCF power plant. Deuterium A stable isotope of the element hydrogen, containing a proton and a

neutron in the nucleus. Electron A subatomic particle with a negative elementary electric charge; elec-

trons are liberated from atoms during ionisation, where the atom be-comes an ion. A plasma usually has electrons as free particles.

ELI ELI is a European project involving nearly 40 research and academic in-stitutions from 13 EU Member Countries, forming a pan-European laser facility that aims to host the most intense lasers worldwide.

ELM Edge localised mode: a periodic and rapid release of energy and parti-cles from the plasma periphery that occurs in improved confinement regimes in tokamaks.

FEL Free-electron laser: a radiation source that produces beamed light (like a laser), but uses relativistic electrons moving in a magnetic field as the emission source, rather than excited atoms or molecules as happens in a conventional laser.

Fusion Process whereby the nuclei of small atoms (such as hydrogen) combine to form a single nucleus of a larger, but more stable, atom (helium), and in so doing, release energy.

Horizon 2020 The EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation, starting in 2014.

Hydrophobic Describes the property of a surface that repels water; the opposite is hydrophilic.

ICF Inertial confinement fusion: the compression of a spherical solid grain of fuel such that nuclear fusion becomes possible. The compression is achieved by ablating the outer surface of the pellet by ultra-strong laser pulses, producing a strongly driven radial motion inward of the material in response. As a result, the mass density of the pellet increases to the point where fusion is probable.

IFE Inertial fusion energy: another term for ICF. ITER World’s largest MCF tokamak, currently being built in France. Ion An atom or molecule with a different total number of electrons from the

total positive charge in its nucleus. Ions can be positive (having lost an electron) and negative (having gained an electron).

Ionisation The process where a neutral particle is converted to a positive ion by having at least one electron removed from it by colliding with a suffi-ciently energetic particle (electron, ion, neutron or photon).

JET Joint European Torus. Operated by CCFE on behalf of its European part-ners.

Low pressure Low-pressure plasmas are those for which the pressure is generally one-millionth of atmospheric pressure; by contrast, high-pressure plasmas are generally considered to be at atmospheric pressure.

MAST Mega-Ampere Spherical Tokamak, sited at Culham and operated by CCFE.

MCF Magnetic confinement fusion: in contrast to ICF, the fusion fuel is heat-ed to great temperatures (exceeding 100 million degrees Kelvin) in the presence of a strong magnetic field. The resulting totally ionised fuel

P a g e | 33

(the plasma) is confined to the reactor vessel by interacting with the magnetic field in such a way that the plasma is held inside the vessel without touching any of the vessel walls, a necessary condition given the enormous temperatures involved. The plasma is allowed to touch cer-tain surfaces (called limiters) for technological reasons such as refuelling and overall confinement stability.

Metastable Long-lived excited state of an atom or molecule: such states can endure for a period that is millions of times greater than normal, and so can store the excitation energy for that duration.

Neutron A subatomic particle with no electrical charge and possessing slightly more mass than a proton.

Photo-ionisation Process where an ion is created from a neutral by the impact of a pho-ton of sufficient energy to liberate an electron from it.

Plasma etching The process of using the impact onto a surface of accelerated ions in order to remove material from that surface. It is widely used in semi-conductor manufacturing.

Radical An extremely reactive atom, molecule or ion. Surface functionalisation Process whereby a surface is modified, by the action of a plasma, to

produce a particular effect: for example, a surface can be made to repel water, or to ensure that bacteria cannot adhere.

Temperature The thermodynamic measure of the mean energy of particles in a gas or plasma at equilibrium, given that the distribution of such particles in energy space follows the Maxwell–Boltzmann form.

Tokamak Most developed MCF concept for realising commercial energy produc-tion.

Tritium An unstable isotope of hydrogen, containing two neutrons and a proton in the nucleus. Tritium is radioactive, with a half-life of approximately 12.3 years.

Undulator A device designed to be inserted into electron beam lines to produce a particular type of radiation. In simple terms an undulator consists of an array of static magnets arranged in such a way that the magnetic field alternates its direction along the device; electrons entering the undula-tor are then accelerated in the periodic field, and emit radiation that reflects the spatial structure of the magnetic field.

| 34 P a g e

10 DETAILS OF PLASMA RESEARCH IN UNIVERSITIES The following table lists the university and institutional groups involved in plasma research in the UK and Ireland. For some institutions, plasma research is

conducted in several departments; where this is the case, multiple web addresses are provided as appropriate.

Institution (universities unless otherwise stated)

Laser p

lasma

Magn

etic fu

-

sion

Tech

no

logical

& lo

w-te

mp

plasm

a

Astro

ph

ysical &

space

plas-m

a

Web pages

AWE www.awe.co.uk/set/Plasma_Physics_f258e.html Birmingham www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/metallurgy-materials/ Bristol www.chm.bris.ac.uk/pt/ Cambridge www.msm.cam.ac.uk/dmg/ University College Cork www.physics.ucc.ie/ CCFE www.ccfe.ac.uk/ Cranfield www.cranfield.ac.uk/sas/welding/ Dublin City www.ncpst.ie Exeter www.emps.exeter.ac.uk/mathematics-computer-

science/research/cgafd/ Glasgow www.astro.gla.ac.uk Heriot-Watt www.eps.hw.ac.uk/departments/physics/PlasmaMaterials.htm Imperial College www3.imperial.ac.uk/plasmaphysics Lancaster www.engineering.lancs.ac.uk Leeds www.engineering.leeds.ac.uk/imr/ Leicester www2.le.ac.uk/departments/physics/research/rspp Liverpool www.liv.ac.uk/eee/research/plasma_complex.htm Loughborough www.lboro.ac.uk/departments/el/research/energy Manchester www.jodrellbank.manchester.ac.uk/research/solar/

| 35 P a g e

Institution (universities unless otherwise stated)

Laser p

lasma

Magn

etic fu

-

sion

Tech

no

logical

& lo

w-te

mp

plasm

a

Astro

ph

ysical &

space

plas-m

a

Web pages

www.chemistry.manchester.ac.uk/research/themes/energy/ Manchester Metropolitan www.sci-eng.mmu.ac.uk/sccrg/ Nottingham www.nottingham.ac.uk/physics Open www.open.ac.uk/science/physics/research/research-

groups/plasma-science-and-engineering Oxford www.eng.ox.ac.uk/plasma/

www.thphys.physics.ox.ac.uk/research/plasma/plasmatheory Queen Mary, London www.astro.qmul.ac.uk/ Queen’s, Belfast www.qub.ac.uk/research-centres/CentreforPlasmaPhysics/ St Andrews www.plasma.st-and.ac.uk/ Salford www.cse.salford.ac.uk/physics/research.php Sheffield www.shef.ac.uk/appliedmaths/research/groups/sp2rc/

www.shef.ac.uk/materials/research/centres/surface/perl07 Sheffield Hallam www.shu.ac.uk/research/meri/ Strathclyde www.phys.strath.ac.uk/research/division_plasmas.php

www.strath.ac.uk/eee/research/iee/ Ulster www.nibec.ulster.ac.uk/research/groups/plasma-and-

nanofabrication-research-group STFC CLF www.clf.rl.ac.uk/ UCL (MSSL) www.mssl.ucl.ac.uk/www_plasma/ Warwick www.warwick.ac.uk/go/cfsa West of Scotland uws.ac.uk/schoolsdepts/es/thinfilmcentre/index.asp York www.york.ac.uk/physics/ypi/

| 36 P a g e

11 PLASMA INDUSTRY ACTIVITY The larger table in this section lists a subset of the industrial concerns that are operating in the UK

and Ireland as commercial plasma organisations, with their principal activities categorised using the

definitions detailed in the Glossary below. The list of concerns is intended to be as indicative and

comprehensive as possible; the compilation of an exhaustive list is impractical.

Glossary

Surface coating Plasma spray or deposition such that the original surface is protected by a

macroscopic layer deposited by plasma techniques. Includes thermal protec-

tion, wear protection, and thin-film plasma deposition on optical components.

Surface processing Plasma techniques used to alter the characteristics of a surface while leaving

the original surface exposed. For example, semiconductor etching, ion implan-

tation, plasma cutting, plasma cleaning.

Specialist support

services

Providers of plasma-related equipment such as plasma sources, vessels, spe-

cialist antennae, and also equipment maintenance, repair and design. Only

those companies are included for which the majority of their business is in

plasma science and technology (and so general suppliers are not included

here, such as vacuum component suppliers).

Computational Numerical simulations specifically dedicated to plasma modelling, either as

suppliers of packages, or specialist services.

Gas & waste re-

mediation

Activity directly concerned with modifying the properties of neutral gases or

waste products via plasma processing, such as air purification, toxic gas de-

struction.

Organisation Website

Surface

coatin

g

Surface p

rocessin

g

Spe

cialist sup

po

rt

services

Bio

me

dical ap

plica

-

tion

s

Co

mp

utatio

nal

Gas &

waste

rem

e-

diatio

n

Plasm

a lightin

g

Advanced Coating Initiative Ltd www.acilimited.co.uk Advanced Ozone Products Ltd www.aozp.co.uk Advanced Plasma Power www.advancedplasmapower.com Altrika www.altrika.com Anacail Ltd www.anacail.com Ascent4 RF Services Ltd www.ascent4.co.uk BD Biosciences www.plasso.group.shef.ac.uk Bodycote www.bodycote.com Ceravision www.ceravision.com

City Plasma Services www.cityplasma.co.uk

| 37 P a g e

COMSOL www.ukcomsol.com Diener UK www.plasmatreatment.co.uk Dyne Technology www.dynetechnology.co.uk E2V www.e2v.com Easel Technologies www.easeltechnologies.co.uk Envirorental (Products) Ltd www.ozonedirect.co.uk Gencoa www.gencoa.com Hiden Analytical www.hidenanalytical.com Helia Photonics www.helia-photonics Henniker Scientific www.henniker-scientific.com Impedans www.impedans.com Impreglon www.impreglon.co.uk Intel Ireland www.intel.com/Ireland/ Intellemetrics Global Ltd www.intellimetrics.com Inseto (UK) www.inseto.co.uk Keronite www.keronite.com LAM Research Ireland Ltd www.lamrc.com Marcote UK Ltd www.marcote.co.uk Nlite www.nlite.co.uk

Oclaro www.oclaro.com Oxford Instruments www.oxford-

instruments.com/plasma

Ozone Industries www.ozone-industries.co.uk Ozone Ultra Clean Ltd www.ozone-ultra-clean.co.uk P2i www.p2i.com Pilkington www.pilkington.com Plasma Clean www.plasma-clean.co.uk Plasma Coatings Ltd www.plasma-group.co.uk Plascom www.plascom.co.uk Plasma Quest Ltd www.plasmaquest.co.uk Plasmatech (UK) Ltd www.plasmatech.co.uk Plasmatreat (UK) Ltd www.plpasmatreat.co.uk Poeton www.poeton.co.uk Proweld www.proweld.co.uk Quantemol www.quantemol.com Semefab Ltd www.semefab.com Tech-X www.txcorp.co.uk Teer Coatings www.teercoatings.co.uk Tessella www.tessella.com Tetronics www.tetronics.com Wright Shapes www.wrightshapes.co.uk Zircotec www.zircotec.com

| 38 P a g e

12 DATA ON JOURNAL ARTICLES ABOUT PLASMA RESEARCH The data below were extracted from the Thomson Scientific Journal Citation Reports (JCR), using 2009 as the consistent reference year throughout. All jour-

nals in physics, astronomy and engineering were filtered for relevance to plasma science to produce the subset below, which represents a comprehensive

snapshot of plasma science activity in 2009. The starting point was the JCR classification “Plasmas and Fluids”, from which the non-plasma journals were re-

moved and additional relevant titles added.

Glossary

No. of plasma articles Number of articles on plasma science satisfying the search terms plasma or discharge or ionisation/ionization in topic, restrict-ed to the titles in the table of relevant journals. Note that articles were checked for relevance before inclusion in the statistics.

UK articles No. of plasma articles with a UK-based author. US articles No. of plasma articles with a US-based author (note that UK articles and US articles may overlap). Total cites The total number of times that a journal has been cited by all journals included in the database in the JCR year. Impact factor Average number of times articles from the journal published in the past two years have been cited in the JCR year. 5-yr impact factor Impact factor over the last five years, rather than the last two years. Immediacy index Average number of times an article is cited in the year it is published. Cited half-life Median age of articles cited by the journal in the JCR year. Eigenfactor score A measure of the journal’s importance, based on weighted citation information over the last five years, with citations from

highly ranked journals counting more than those that are poorly ranked. Article influence score Average influence of the papers in a journal, based on the first five years after publication.

| 39 P a g e

No. of plasma articles

UK articles

US articles

Journal title ISSN 2009 total cites

2009 impact factor

5-yr im-pact

factor

Immediacy index

Total 2009

articles

Cited half-life

Eigenfactor score

Article influence

2 1 0 NAT PHOTONICS 1749-4885 3468 22.869 23.215 5.402 82 2 0.03606 13.328

2 0 1 MAT SCI ENG R 0927-796X 3938 12.217 23.095 4.25 12 7.5 0.01109 8.458

19 4 8 NAT PHYS 1745-2473 7693 15.491 16.879 4.952 146 2.4 0.10681 12.457

16 2 16 ASTROPHYS J SUPPL S 0067-0049 21507 12.771 11.092 12.377 138 6.3 0.09428 5.875

4 2 2 ASTRON ASTROPHYS REV 0935-4956 605 11.857 10.952 1.25 8 7 0.00276 6.308

19 2 9 ADV MATER 0935-9648 57456 8.379 9.836 1.737 665 5.4 0.21307 3.337

17 2 7 ADV FUNCT MATER 1616-301X 16763 6.99 8.46 1.208 443 3.6 0.08934 2.743

299 46 147 PHYS REV LETT 0031-9007 332130 7.328 7.104 2.104 3414 7.6 1.26635 3.293

338 40 26 ASTROPHYS J 0004-637X 203596 7.364 6.39 2.256 2796 7.2 0.51245 1.922

10 0 3 J COSMOL ASTROPART P 1475-7516 8871 6.502 6.239 3.274 402 2.5 0.05574 2.351

27 0 0 MRS BULL 0883-7694 4747 6.33 5.978 0.795 78 5.6 0.02199 2.59

3 0 3 LASER PHOTONICS REV 1863-8880 328 5.814 5.814 2.2 35 1.6 0.00281 3.141

142 45 15 MON NOT R ASTRON SOC 0035-8711 70989 5.103 4.992 1.307 1693 5.6 0.27984 1.902

15 2 9 ASTRON J 0004-6256 33695 4.481 4.867 1.251 394 8.2 0.1101 2.285

14 0 5 J CHEM THEORY COMPUT 1549-9618 3898 4.804 4.852 0.981 323 2.6 0.02678 1.746

43 2 38 SPACE SCI REV 0038-6308 6078 4.589 4.595 1.044 135 7.9 0.03037 2.578

88 0 10 INT J HYDROGEN ENERG 0360-3199 15069 3.945 4.452 0.755 1112 3.5 0.03032 0.685

3 0 1 NANO RES 1998-0124 294 4.37 4.389 0.57 100 1.4 0.00262 2.332

96 3 46 PHYS REV D 1550-7998 113952 4.922 4.331 1.686 2736 6 0.33534 1.339

182 41 47 ASTRON ASTROPHYS 0004-6361 88679 4.179 4.069 1.089 1787 6.7 0.28403 1.444

12 0 2 ORG ELECTRON 1566-1199 2161 3.262 3.805 0.642 254 3.1 0.01278 1.494

287 16 88 APPL PHYS LETT 0003-6951 186353 3.554 3.78 0.617 4677 5.6 0.71698 1.348

| 40 P a g e


UK articles

US articles


2009 impact factor

5-yr im-pact

factor

Immediacy index

Total 2009

articles

Cited half-life

Eigenfactor score

Article influence

88 13 22 PHYS CHEM CHEM PHYS 1463-9076 20798 4.116 3.779 0.649 1249 4.7 0.08744 1.298

31 0 12 PUBL ASTRON SOC JPN 0004-6264 5033 5.022 3.721 0.939 180 5 0.01699 1.194

21 1 2 CHEMPHYSCHEM 1439-4235 7985 3.453 3.708 0.737 410 4 0.04305 1.314

3 1 2 ASTROPART PHYS 0927-6505 3219 4.136 3.693 1 87 5.1 0.01365 1.369

208 18 12 PLASMA PROCESS POLYM 1612-8850 1206 4.037 3.58 0.127 267 2.8 0.00696 1.026

83 8 20 NANOTECHNOLOGY 0957-4484 20959 3.137 3.574 0.587 1278 3.3 0.11581 1.164

3 1 3 PUBL ASTRON SOC PAC 0004-6280 8132 3.009 3.524 0.619 134 > 10.0 0.02413 1.885

74 13 20 NEW J PHYS 1367-2630 8711 3.312 3.438 1.316 806 2.7 0.0762 1.901

6 1 4 ATOM DATA NUCL DATA 0092-640X 2638 1.413 3.27 0.652 23 > 10.0 0.003 1.62

216 48 85 NUCL FUSION 0029-5515 6839 4.27 3.195 1.122 279 6.3 0.02516 1.289

192 16 74 J CHEM PHYS 0021-9606 175443 3.093 3.177 0.71 2546 > 10.0 0.29108 1.016

1 0 1 ADV ATOM MOL OPT PHY 1049-250X 937 3.087 3.113 0.333 6 9.8 0.00236 1.825

206 7 91 J PHYS CHEM A 1089-5639 46944 2.899 2.98 0.585 1825 5.8 0.14377 0.884

15 0 1 NANOSCALE RES LETT 1931-7573 681 2.894 2.942 0.528 233 1.9 0.00272 0.692

38 8 22 SOL PHYS 0038-0938 8894 3.628 2.935 0.886 176 > 10.0 0.02125 1.171

294 21 105 PHYS REV A 1050-2947 84617 2.866 2.895 0.758 2537 8.4 0.23892 1.084

145 14 49 PHYS REV E 1539-3755 70802 2.4 2.603 0.505 2456 6.7 0.2489 1.017

9 1 1 PHYS STATUS SOLIDI-R 1862-6254 555 2.56 2.565 0.596 104 2.1 0.00436 1.098

30 0 6 IEEE T ELECTRON DEV 0018-9383 14135 2.445 2.562 0.342 421 8 0.04497 1.057

147 37 41 PLASMA PHYS CONTR F 0741-3335 5759 2.409 2.493 0.697 251 5.7 0.02676 1.141

142 14 29 PLASMA SOURCES SCI T 0963-0252 3129 2.384 2.438 0.658 146 6.6 0.00948 0.839

63 5 15 CHEM PHYS LETT 0009-2614 56231 2.291 2.402 0.505 1072 9.2 0.11659 0.794

291 18 52 J PHYS D APPL PHYS 0022-3727 21238 2.083 2.305 0.434 1363 5.7 0.07986 0.859

127 12 44 INT J MASS SPECTROM 1387-3806 7264 2.117 2.304 0.563 222 7.4 0.01868 0.752

361 16 89 J APPL PHYS 0021-8979 115445 2.072 2.278 0.364 4271 8.4 0.32238 0.877

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UK articles

US articles


2009 impact factor

5-yr im-pact

factor

Immediacy index

Total 2009

articles

Cited half-life

Eigenfactor score

Article influence

6 1 2 ADV CHEM PHYS 0065-2385 2539 2.471 2.255 1 10 > 10.0 0.00246 1.076

642 68 211 PHYS PLASMAS 1070-664X 17672 2.475 2.24 0.62 865 5.5 0.06859 0.834

17 0 2 APPL PHYS EXPRESS 1882-0778 936 2.223 2.223 0.516 339 1.4 0.00787 1.11

8 0 6 IEEE T NANOTECHNOL 1536-125X 1574 1.671 2.19 0.433 97 4.3 0.00932 0.886

28 0 5 APPL PHYS B-LASERS O 0946-2171 8346 1.992 2.158 0.472 436 5.8 0.03073 0.781

140 15 10 SURF COAT TECH 0257-8972 20909 1.793 2.148 0.239 627 5.7 0.06357 0.609

36 8 9 CHEM PHYS 0301-0104 13029 2.277 2.059 0.679 271 9.1 0.03361 0.733

44 0 1 MATER LETT 0167-577X 16195 1.94 2.058 0.392 823 4.3 0.06352 0.583

38 1 4 PLASMA CHEM PLASMA P 0272-4324 1218 2.039 2.023 0.225 40 7.3 0.00308 0.676

8 1 3 IEEE J QUANTUM ELECT 0018-9197 9834 1.968 2.013 0.396 187 > 10.0 0.0143 0.788

254 3 20 THIN SOLID FILMS 0040-6090 33298 1.727 1.902 0.264 1403 6.9 0.09395 0.595

142 14 46 J PHYS B-AT MOL OPT 0953-4075 13733 1.91 1.89 0.543 521 9.5 0.0376 0.745

6 0 2 NEW ASTRON 1384-1076 1288 1.675 1.849 0.789 90 6 0.00549 0.845

45 1 7 APPL PHYS A-MATER 0947-8396 10244 1.595 1.813 0.363 576 6.1 0.03504 0.631

6 1 2 SPACE WEATHER 1542-7390 384 1.845 1.769 0.538 39 3.7 0.00326 0.802

97 5 3 J NANOSCI NANOTECHNO 1533-4880 5537 1.435 1.756 0.229 1216 3 0.02567 0.449

9 0 2 IEEE SENS J 1530-437X 2315 1.581 1.685 0.145 249 3.9 0.0122 0.566

268 13 21 APPL SURF SCI 0169-4332 21294 1.616 1.679 0.288 1492 5 0.07585 0.503

136 11 14 EUR PHYS J D 1434-6060 3963 1.42 1.625 0.492 329 5.1 0.01881 0.672

13 1 6 MOL PHYS 0026-8976 11529 1.634 1.596 0.336 256 > 10.0 0.01691 0.578

104 12 36 REV SCI INSTRUM 0034-6748 19371 1.521 1.504 0.274 657 8.3 0.06237 0.638

35 1 2 CURR APPL PHYS 1567-1739 1696 1.586 1.491 0.502 430 3.4 0.00746 0.44

58 4 9 MICROELECTRON ENG 0167-9317 5616 1.488 1.456 0.291 556 4.4 0.02465 0.491

N/A N/A 1 J TURBUL 1468-5248 572 1.23 1.414 0.125 40 4.7 0.00427 0.818

10 1 3 J MOL SPECTROSC 0022-2852 5726 1.542 1.372 0.291 141 > 10.0 0.00758 0.449

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UK articles

US articles


2009 impact factor

5-yr im-pact

factor

Immediacy index

Total 2009

articles

Cited half-life

Eigenfactor score

Article influence

84 1 39 J VAC SCI TECHNOL A 0734-2101 7332 1.297 1.338 0.245 208 9.9 0.01565 0.485

13 0 4 INT J QUANTUM CHEM 0020-7608 7426 1.315 1.336 0.387 377 9.7 0.01578 0.415

97 2 44 J VAC SCI TECHNOL B 1071-1023 10072 1.46 1.331 0.165 619 8 0.02744 0.478

205 6 55 IEEE T PLASMA SCI 0093-3813 5465 1.043 1.253 0.276 333 7.3 0.01682 0.447

58 1 3 CONTRIB PLASM PHYS 0863-1042 962 1.529 1.205 0.135 74 5.7 0.00418 0.49

29 2 7 IEEE T MAGN 0018-9464 15429 1.061 1.176 0.146 1127 8.4 0.03472 0.356

13 1 1 J MATER SCI-MATER EL 0957-4522 1778 1.02 1.097 0.284 292 4.6 0.00697 0.364

153 1 3 JPN J APPL PHYS 0021-4922 29661 1.138 1.096 0.151 1619 7.5 0.08321 0.364

121 3 2 VACUUM 0042-207X 4046 0.975 1.088 0.251 378 6.7 0.01179 0.358

130 N/A N/A NUCL INSTRUM METH B 0168-583X 15307 1.156 1.078 0.216 755 6.8 0.04275 0.35

53 9 10 J PLASMA PHYS 0022-3778 1279 0.775 0.671 0.368 57 > 10.0 0.00261 0.303

Total plasma articles Total UK articles

Total US articles

7538 668 1880

% 8.9 24.9

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13 DATA ON GRANT-FUNDED PLASMA SCIENCE The following tables show the range and diversity of grant awards used in the compilation of funding statistics.

13.1 TABLE 1: EPSRC GRANTS AWARDED THAT WERE ACTIVE IN THE PERIOD 2006–2011 INCLUSIVE

Grant title EPSRC discipline category

Institution Department Sum award-ed (£)

Start date

End date

Technological plasmas: TOTAL £12,506,136

Cross disciplinary feasibility account: Warwick centre for fusion space and astrophysics

University of Warwick Physics 201,555 2009 2011

Dual source pulsed plasmas for the production of ultra-high per-formance coatings

Open University Physics and Astronomy 41,990 2007 2010

Dual mode plasma UV microreactor for ozonolysis and hydrogena-tion green chemistry

University of Sheffield Chemical & Biological Engineering

101,988 2011 2011

Experimental study of waves and solitons in complex plasmas University of Liverpool Electrical Engineering and Electronics

209,835 2007 2010

Microplasmas from diamond arrays STFC – Laboratories Engineering and Instru-mentation

211,243 2010 2013

Microplasmas from diamond arrays Open University Physics and Astronomy 211,317 2009 2013

Generation of high power, high frequency radiation using high brightness pseudospark-sourced relativistic electron beams

Queen Mary, University of London Sch of Electronic Eng & Computer Science

233,786 2008 2012

Advanced spectroscopic probes for low temperature plasma anal-ysis

University of Oxford Oxford Chemistry 239,096 2005 2010


University of Liverpool Electrical Engineering and Electronics

270,135 2007 2010

Microplasmas from diamond arrays University of Bristol Chemistry 348,069 2009 2013

The study of magnetized electronegative depositing plasmas University of Liverpool Electrical Engineering and Electronics

371,172 2007 2011

Tracking and estimation techniques for phase transitions in com-plex plasmas


561,138 2009 2012

Micro-plasma technology for controlling cellular interactions on medical implants


581,062 2009 2013

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Start date

End date

Generation of high power, high frequency radiation using high brightness pseudospark-sourced relativistic electron beams

University of Strathclyde Physics 686,058 2008 2012

Interactions between micro-plasma devices Queen’s University Belfast School of Mathematics and Physics

786,720 2010 2015

Study and control of Rydberg-molecule interactions with surfaces and adsorbates


New frontiers in quantitative infra-red to ultraviolet spectroscopy using diode and quantum-cascade lasers

University of Bristol Chemistry 885,976 2007 2012

New frontiers in quantitative infra-red to ultraviolet spectroscopy using diode and quantum-cascade lasers


Institute for Plasma Science, Technology and Fusion Energy University of York Physics 1,787,000 2010 2011

Stem cell fractionation using interactions with artificial matrices The University of Manchester Chem Eng and Analytical Science

2,175,436 2010 2014

Role of helicity on the quality of microchannel plasma generation University of Sheffield Chemical & Biological Engineering

97,148 2005 2006


Manchester Metropolitan University Chemistry and Materials 196,370 2007 2010

e-CAP: Engineering Cold Atmospheric Plasmas Loughborough University Electronic and Electrical Engineering

338,516 2006 2009

Follow On: Optimising the performance and efficiency of non-thermal, atmospheric pressure plasma reactors for the destruction of pollutants in waste g

The University of Manchester Chemistry 60,984 2006 2007

Scale-up feasibility of plasma deposition in 3D tissue engineering scaffolds


125,722 2006 2008

Scale-up feasibility of plasma deposition in 3D tissue engineering scaffolds

University of Nottingham Sch of Pharmacy 32,188 2006 2008

Fusion and laser: TOTAL £31,098,066 Start end

A low-cost computer cluster for the calculation of atomic data of importance in plasma physics

Queen’s University Belfast School of Mathematics and Physics

32,201 2010 2012

Bright table-top x-ray sources using laser wakefield acceleration Imperial College London Dept of Physics 110,980 2010 2012

Control of electrons by few-cycle intense laser pulses Imperial College London Dept of Physics 2,525,513 2007 2011

Controlled high-repetition plasma based electron accelerators Imperial College London Dept of Physics 746,369 2010 2013

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Start date

End date

Controlled, staged electron acceleration in plasma waveguides University of Oxford Oxford Physics 127,218 2009 2013

Development of stable laser-accelerated electron beams for radia-tion generation

University of Oxford Oxford Physics 600,657 2009 2013

Fusion Doctoral Training Network University of York Physics 201,925 2009 2011

High energy density plasmas generated and probed with fourth generation light sources


Instabilities in non-thermal plasmas University of Strathclyde Physics 1,026,225 2009 2013

Instabilities in non-thermal plasmas University of St Andrews Mathematics and Statis-tics

345,328 2009 2013

Intense attoscience: A new frontier in ultrafast research – Relativ-istic plasmas and high harmonic generation


660,408 2009 2014

International collaborations on high energy density matter University of Warwick Physics 7,978 2010 2011

Key physics for Inertial Confinement Fusion diagnosed by ion emission


Laboratory measurements of the opacity of solar plasmas University of York Physics 865,909 2007 2011

Lattice Boltzmann methods for fluids, plasmas, and quantum sys-tems

University of Oxford Mathematical Institute 526,367 2007 2012

Microscopic dynamics of warm dense matter Queen’s University Belfast School of Mathematics and Physics

467,881 2009 2012

Microscopic dynamics of warm dense matter University of Oxford Oxford Physics 612,578 2009 2012

Multiscale modelling of magnetised plasma turbulence University of Warwick Physics 37,422 2009 2013

Multiscale modelling of magnetised plasma turbulence EURATOM/CCFE Culham Centre for Fusion Energy

5,844 2009 2013

Multiscale modelling of magnetised plasma turbulence University of Edinburgh Edinburgh Parallel Com-puting Centre

37,289 2009 2013

Multi-scale simulation of intense laser plasma interactions Imperial College London Dept of Physics 305,828 2010 2014

Multi-scale simulation of intense laser plasma interactions University of Warwick Physics 439,083 2010 2013

Multi-scale simulation of intense laser plasma interactions University of Oxford Oxford Physics 313,280 2009 2013

Next generation application of EUV lasers University of York Physics 127,292 2007 2011

Plasma accelerators driven in waveguides: training the next gen- University of Oxford Oxford Physics 129,502 2007 2011

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Start date

End date

eration of facility users

Quantifying, modelling and interpreting edge plasma turbulence in tokamak and stellarator fusion experiments

University of Warwick Physics 445,528 2009 2012

Queen’s University Belfast Plasma Physics Queen’s University Belfast School of Mathematics and Physics

2,491,799 2006 2011

Re-creating the physics of astrophysical jets in laboratory experi-ments

Imperial College London Dept of Physics 1,901,807 2008 2012

SAMI (Synthetic Aperture Microwave Imaging): Measuring toka-mak plasma current using electron Bernstein wave emission

University of York Physics 101,090 2009 2011

SUSSP68 International Summer School in Laser-Plasma Interac-tions and Applications


The CCPP Network in Computational Plasma Physics University of Warwick Physics 84,097 2010 2013

The CCPP Network in Computational Plasma Physics STFC – Laboratories Computational Sci and Eng – RAL

20,820 2010 2013

The interaction of transport and reconnection in high temperature plasmas

University of York Physics 615,364 2010 2013

Theory and simulation of dust transport in Tokamaks Imperial College London Dept of Physics 372,800 2008 2011

Theory of explosive plasma instabilities University of York Physics 657,561 2006 2010

Transient high energy density plasmas driven by few cycle laser pulses

Imperial College London Dept of Physics 157,771 2009 2013

Turbulence in the edge of tokamaks University of Oxford Oxford Physics 254,242 2009 2012

Warm dense matter experiments LCLS free electron laser Queen’s University Belfast School of Mathematics and Physics

9,347 2010 2011

Wire array Z-pinch driven high energy density physics experiments Imperial College London Dept of Physics 605,637 2007 2012

X-ray studies of exotic novel states of solid-density matter created with 4th generation light sources


A new UK fusion plasma physics programme at Warwick University University of Warwick Physics 4,975,430 2006 2013

EPSRC – Energy Research Senior Fellow Imperial College London Earth Science and Engi-neering

1,029,817

Integrated energy initiative: innovative power networks, de-mand/supply side integration and nuclear engineering

University of Strathclyde Electronic and Electrical Engineering

2,730,749 2005 2010

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Start date

End date

Putting next generation fusion materials on the fast track University College London Physics and Astronomy 117,781 2007 2010

Putting next generation fusion materials on the fast track Heriot-Watt University Sch of Engineering and Physical Science

743,778 2007 2010

Beam driven instabilities in magnetized plasmas University of Strathclyde Physics 295,079 2006 2009

Beam driven instabilities in magnetized plasmas University of St Andrews Mathematics and Statis-tics

202,599 2006 2009

Energetic protons & ions from high intensity laser plasma interac-tions


216,569 2005 2008

Enhancement to computer cluster for the calculation of atomic data of importance in plasma physics


19,881 2005 2007

Fokker-Planck simulations of transport and magnetic field genera-tion in hohlraum laser-plasmas

Imperial College London Dept of Physics 120,670 2005 2008

Laser-Plasma Interactions Summer School University of Strathclyde Physics 24,414 2005 2006

Radiation sources based on laser-plasma interaction University of Strathclyde Physics 124,506 2005 2008

Theoretical and numerical simulations of nonlinear wave plasma interactions using the wave kinetic approach


Theoretical studies of Raman scattering and chirped pulse amplifi-cation in plasma


X-ray scattering from dense plasmas of arbitrary Z : accurate simu-lation for optimal experiment design and data analysis


162,599 2005 2009

Covariant analysis of accelerating charged beams and plasmas Lancaster University Physics 188,862 2007 2009

Statistical formulation of intermittency in magnetized plasmas University of Sheffield Applied Mathematics 192,890 2007 2009

Surfaces: TOTAL £1,479,546 start end

Breakthrough studies on the plasma electrolytic oxidation (PEO) coating process

University of Cambridge Materials Science & Met-allurgy

481,415 2010 2014


University of Southampton Electronics and Computer Science

145,410 2010 2014


University of Sheffield Materials Science and Engineering

601,157 2010 2014

Bright IDEAS Award: Plasma-olyte University College London Chemistry 251,564 2010 2011

Analytical science: TOTAL £355,137 Start End

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Start date

End date

Plasma electrochemical sensor for airborne particulates University College London Chemistry 355,137 2008 2011

Biomaterials: TOTAL £320,234 Start End

Towards anti-microbial multifunctional stainless steel surfaces: active-screen plasma surface alloying with C, N, Ag and Cu

University of Birmingham Metallurgy and Materials 320,234 2008 2011

Energy – nuclear: TOTAL £5,858,958 Start End

Materials for fusion & fission power University of Oxford Materials 5,810,166 2010 2015

Ion irradiations of fusion reactor materials University of Oxford Materials 48,792 2007 2010

Light–matter interactions: TOTAL £936,405 Start End

Ion acceleration driven by ultra-short, ultra-intense pulses Queen’s University Belfast School of Mathematics and Physics

128,389 2008 2012

Ionization of multi-electron atomic and molecular systems driven by intense and ultrashort laser pulses

University College London Physics and Astronomy 808,016 2009 2014

Materials characterisation: TOTAL £904,873 Start End

Feasibility study of plasma-assisted electroepitaxy for the growth of GaN layers and bulk crystals

University of Nottingham Sch of Physics & Astron-omy

343,689 2009 2013

Molecular beam mass spectrometry of microwave activated plas-mas used in diamond chemical vapour deposition

University of Bristol Chemistry 371,523 2006 2010

Fundamentals of high power impulse magnetron sputtering (HIP-IMS) – plasma studies and materials synthesis

Sheffield Hallam University Faculty of Arts Computing Eng and Sci

189,661 2006 2010

Other misc: TOTAL £1,516,135 Start End

Active control of turbulent flow separation by surface plasma University of Nottingham Sch of Mech Materials Manuf Eng Mgt

188,838 2006 2008

Growth of single crystal thin films of transparent conducting ox-ides by oxygen plasma assisted atomic beam epitaxy


Microwave-induced plasma promoted dielectric heating: metrolo-gy and application to the photocatalytic activation of water

University of Leeds Institute of Materials Re-search

264,220 2007 2010

Microwave-induced plasma promoted dielectric heating: metrolo-gy and application to the photocatalytic activation of water

University of York Chemistry 345,974 2007 2010

Modelling nonlinear multimode phenomena in fusion plasmas University of York Physics 23,752 2005 2006

Summer School in Atomic, Molecular, Optical and Plasma Physics Open University Physics and Astronomy 23,700 2005 2006

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Start date

End date

Quantum etch plasma simulation University College London Physics and Astronomy 93,686 2007 2008

Understanding the mechanism of plasma-assisted catalysis: Visit by Prof. Y.S. Mok

The University of Manchester Chemistry 10,871 2007 2008

Grand Total £54,975,490

Additional funding: CCFE

UK Magnetic Fusion Research Programme CCFE £163,400,000 2010 2016

13.2 TABLE 2: STFC PLASMA-RELATED GRANTS AWARDED THAT WERE ACTIVE IN THE PERIOD 2006–2011 INCLUSIVE

Grant title Institution Value (£) Period STFC refer-ence

Contribution of plasma jets and sporadic ... Armagh Observatory 407,437 2008–12 ST/F001843/1

Artificial auroras: energy spectrum of accelerated ... Lancaster University 317,174 2009–12 ST/G00241X/1

Advanced electromagnetic simulations Lancaster University 116,956 2010–11 ST/H003932/1

Magnetic reconnection as universal plasma ... Imperial College 464,832 2010–14 ST/G00725X/1

Rosetta post-launch support Imperial College 200,519 2009–12 ST/H004262/1

Cluster FGM operations and calibration Imperial College 116,974 2010–11 ST/I000623/1

Space physics rolling grant Imperial College 2,089,729 2010–15 ST/H002383/1

External beam therapy ... wake field accelerator Institute of Cancer research 79,624 2010–13 ST/H003819/1

Kinetic plasma turbulence in space and astrophysical flows Queen Mary, University of London 332,010 2010–13 ST/H002731/1

Astrophysics (including solar) Queen’s University Belfast 2,130,419 2008–13 ST/F002270/1

Transition regions in Jovian magnetodisks ... UCL, MSSL 225,058 2009–12 ST/G007462/1

Energy flows in stellar coronae University of Cambridge 321,379 2008–12 PP/E004857/2

Quantifying magnetic fluxes and reconnection ... University of Dundee 277,890 2009–12 ST/G002436/1

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Grant title Institution Value (£) Period STFC refer-ence

Particle acceleration in complex, turbulent electromagnetic fields University of Glasgow 70,998 2009–13 ST/G000816/1

Plasma-catalysed sterilization of packaged consumer goods University of Glasgow 88,310 2009–10 ST/H00274X/1

Solar, stellar and cosmological plasmas University of Glasgow 1,309,050 2008–12 ST/F002149/1

Study of solar wind discontinuities ... University of Leicester 70,998 2008–12 ST/F007612/1

Solar & planetary physics research University of Leicester 1,760,268 2010–15 ST/H002480/1

MHD and kinetic models of magnetic reconnection ... University of Manchester 464,088 2008–11 ST/F003064/1

Turbulence, plasma instabilities, transport ... University of Oxford 244,771 2009–11 ST/F002505/2

Kinetic theory of waves in space and astrophysical plasmas University of Sheffield 293,792 2009–12 ST/G002398/1

Structure and dynamics of solar interior ... Heating and magneto-seismology of solar atm ...

University of Sheffield 494,984 609,767

2008–12 2008–11

ST/F501796/1 ST/F002327/1

Visiting researchers in space environment physics University of Southampton 32,498 2009–12 ST/G001618/1

Solar and magnetospheric plasma theory University of St Andrews 1,658,065 2010–15 ST/H001964/1

Parallel computing resources for UK MHD University of St Andrews 967,667 2009–12 ST/H008799/1

UK APAP Network University of Strathclyde 316,993 2008–11 PP/E001254/1

Transfer of high power Ka-band design capability ... University of Strathclyde 304,231 2009–11 ST/G003521/1

Fundamental plasma physics of solar system University of Warwick 1,252,172 2008–13 ST/F00205X/1

STFC Grand Total £16,930,343

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13.3 TABLE 3: NERC PLASMA-RELATED GRANTS AWARDED THAT WERE ACTIVE IN THE PERIOD 2006–2011 INCLUSIVE

Grant title Investigator institution Value (£) Period NERC refer-ence

Filamentary structure in the upper atmosphere University of Southampton 390,032 2010–13 NE/H024433/1

Pathfinder: Using simulations to reduce industrial costs and the environmental consequences of plasma etching

University College London 7,604 2009–10 NE/H014039/1

SWARM data calibration and validation STFC Laboratories SSTD £189,855 2010–13 NE/H004076/1

Relativistic electron beams above thunderclouds University of Bath 305,051 2010–13 NE/H024921/1

A new radar for integrated atmospheric science in the southern hemisphere

NERC British Antarctic Survey, Science Programmes

561,630 2009–13 NE/G018707/1

A new radar for integrated atmospheric science in the southern hemisphere

University of Leicester 387,267 2009–13 NE/G019665/1

Quantifying the effect of the upper atmospheric electric poten-tial on lower atmospheric temperature and pressure


370,875 2011–14 NE/I024852/1

Grant title Investigator institution Value (£) Period NERC refer-ence

Geophysical modelling of geomagnetically induced currents in the UK

NERC British Geological Survey, Earth Hazards and Systems

59,336 2011–13 NE/J004693/1

Influence of energetic particle precipitation and meteorology on NOx and ozone variability in the Arctic middle atmosphere


51,185 2011–12 NE/I016767/1

Convection and dynamo in the Earth’s fluid core University of Exeter 343,096 2010–13 NE/G003548/1

Rapid dynamics in the Earth’s core University of Leeds 542,607 2011–15 NE/I012052/1

NERC Grand Total £3,208,538

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13.4 TABLE 4: BBSRC PLASMA-RELATED GRANTS AWARDED THAT WERE ACTIVE IN THE PERIOD 2006–2011 INCLUSIVE

Grant title Investigator institution Value Period BBSRC reference

Novel processing methods for the production and distribu-tion of high-quality and safe foods

Institute of Food Research £893,202 2006–11 BBS/E/F/00042082

BBSRC Grand Total £893,202

13.5 TABLE 5: LEVERHULME TRUST PLASMA-RELATED RESEARCH PROJECT GRANTS AWARDED THAT WERE ACTIVE IN THE PERIOD 2006–2011

INCLUSIVE

Grant title Investigator institution Value (£) Period

A new approach to the numerical simulation of MHD flows Coventry University 133,702 2010–13

Magnetised turbulence in astrophysical and fusion plasmas Imperial College London 95,578 2007–10

Interaction between rotation, convection and magnetic field in sun ... Queen Margaret University 126,064 2006–9

Deposition of novel microstructures by electrohydrodynamic co-axial jetting University College London 144,969 2006–9

Sub-arcsecond X-ray chromospheric magnetic field and density measure-ment

University of Glasgow 143,638 2009–12

Modelling the Jovian magnetic field and its variation ... University of Liverpool 56,320 2007–10

International Network on fs X-ray sources driven by plasma accelerators University of Oxford 124,961 2009–12

Equilibrium and dynamics of collisionless current sheets University of St Andrews 109,109 2009–12

Nonlinear MHD waves in coupled systems University of St Andrews 115,417 2007–10

Plasma control techniques used to facilitate trapping of cold antihydrogen University of Swansea 228,132 2006–9

Leverhulme Grand Total £1,277,890

Note that the Leverhulme Trust also awarded three personal fellowships in plasma-related areas during this period; their value was not specified.

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13.6 TABLE 6: SUMMARY OF RESEARCH FUNDING AWARDS

The following table summarises the grants made by the various funding bodies to research groups in universities through the process of competitive rounds.

This list excludes the funding awarded to central laboratories (such as CCFE).

Funder Total value Percentage

EPSRC £54,975,490 71.1

BBSRC £893,202 1.15

NERC £3,208,538 4.15

STFC £17,018,653 22.0

Leverhulme £1,277,890 1.65

Grand Total £77,285,463 100

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15 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The compilation of this document was undertaken by the IOP Plasma Physics Group Committee, the

membership of which is as follows:

Dr R Bamford, STFC Prof. J Bradley, University of Liverpool Dr D A Diver, Chair, University of Glasgow Dr P Johnson, Open University Dr S D Pinches, CCFE Dr R Kingham, Imperial College London Dr D O’Connell, University of York (formerly of Queen’s University Belfast) Dr A Robinson, STFC (Hon. Treasurer, April 2011 – ) Dr K Ronald, University of Strathclyde (co-opted, 2010–11) Dr L Upcraft, Hon. Secretary, AWE Dr R Vann, University of York Dr E Verwichte, University of Warwick Dr T Whitmore, Henniker Scientific (until April 2010) Dr N Woolsey, Hon. Treasurer, University of York (until April 2011) Dr A R Young, University of Strathclyde

Assistance from IOP via Tajinder Panesor and Claire Copeland and Sophie Robinson is also gratefully

acknowledged.

Additional insight and advice from Prof. N S Braithwaite, Dr J Collier, Prof. S Cowley, Prof. W G Gra-

ham, Dr T Hender, Prof. P Maguire, Prof. A D R Phelps, Dr A Randewich, Prof. S Rose and Prof. H Wil-

son have been instrumental in compiling this report.

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16 APPENDIX: DETAILS OF THE CONSULTATION PROCESS

16.1 PLASMA VISIONS: THE MOTIVATION

The following commentary was published in the IOP Plasma Physics Group Newsletter, and dis-

cussed at the annual Spring Conference in 2010, prior to the distribution of the questionnaire itself.

The commentary, and the responses it elicited, helped shape the nature of the information to be

solicited by the questionnaire. The commentary was also distributed with the questionnaire itself, in

order to clarify the motivation behind constructing this report.

A) Why attempt to construct a Plasma Vision for the UK?

Plasma physics is evolving rapidly as a discipline, opening up new research areas and applications.

We can take the initiative to define the future for our own subject area by constructing a community

vision that ranges across all relevant aspects, and accommodates views from apparently disparate

sub-areas: fusion (magnetic and inertial), laser-plasma, low temperature and non-equilibrium phys-

ics, industrial applications and plasma astrophysics. By creating a comprehensive scientific vision, we

can produce a document that can inspire researchers and inform funders. Plasma physics has on oc-

casion been viewed as a rather diffuse and difficult-to-define research area; the UK Plasma Vision

Report (UKPVR) will be our chance to demonstrate the vibrancy of our collective scholarship, and

how plasma research can deliver excellent science impact, extend the UK research base and develop

leadership across an impressive range of frontier science.

EPSRC has indicated informally that they would welcome such a community expression; IOP have

endorsed this initiative and will assist with the information collation and publication of the report.

B) What form would such a perspective document take?

Inspired by the US Decadal Report, the UKPV Report would summarise the current strengths of UK

plasma physics, identify the plasma science challenges ahead, and highlight how current and future

resources could be developed to meet these challenges. Above all, the Report is primarily a science

vision, and not a political one.

C) Who would write such a document? How can it truly reflect the wishes of all interested parties?

The IOP Plasma Physics Group Committee (PPGC) will co-ordinate this consultation exercise, since it

is seen to be representative of all labs and communities. The role of the PPGC will be to exercise

moderate and appropriate editorial control on invited submissions from across the whole communi-

ty in order to synthesize a coherent articulation of research aspiration.

The submissions will be solicited via a questionnaire, which can be completed on-line or off-line.

Questionnaires will be sent to all scientists involved in any area of plasma physics, academic or

commercial.

Naturally, large labs and research groups (for example, Culham, RAL etc) may well have strategic

plans already formulated; the UKPVR will not compromise any such plans. Strategic documents can

be appended to the report in their entirety. The main document will consist of the synthesis of the

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material returned via the questionnaire. The editing of these compilations will be undertaken by the

PPGC in a manner that ensures a fluent overall vision without compromising as far as possible either

the original intent or conflicting with any strategic appendix.

In addition to PPGC effort, trusted and distinguished external plasma colleagues will be asked for

confidential input on the content and tone of the Vision document overall. The close-to-final draft

will be made available to all contributors for feedback before general release.

D) What would such a document be used for?

As a response to EPSRC and STFC concerns about the future of the research area, it will demonstrate

commonality of purpose and vision, communicate research adventure and allay fears about frag-

mentation and leadership.

It should also help those applying for funding to construct a more potent case for support, since hav-

ing such a perspective document available will assist in assessing impact and relevance across our

community.

It may also stimulate new funding applications from scientists seeking collaborations within our

community, thus helping create interdisciplinary links.

16.2 PLASMA VISIONS QUESTIONNAIRE

A questionnaire was distributed to the community in the summer of 2010; the questions are repli-

cated below. Section 15.3 gives the detailed guidance that was issued with the questionnaire.

16.2.1 QUESTIONNAIRE DETAILS:

Section A: Identification Details

[Respondents were asked to identify themselves, and indicate whether or not the responses in

the questionnaire reflected a personal opinion, or represented an institutional response. Re-

spondents were also invited to append an institutional strategy document, if relevant.]

Section B: Current Activity

1. Please describe what you believe to be the current strengths of the UK plasma research ac-

tivity.

2. Please describe the range and nature of your current plasma research.

3. Please estimate the numbers of your fellow researchers that are active in plasma research in

your organisation.

Section C: New Challenges

4. Please indicate where you believe the next important developments in plasma research lie.

Please feel free to take a detached and over-arching perspective, even if this may not be strict-

ly relevant to your organisation.

5. In which new aspects of plasma research development do you envisage your organisation

playing an active part?

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Section D: Resources

6. What resources or facilities would be needed in the UK in order to best fulfil the pursuit of

the new plasma challenges defined in your response to Q4?

7. What resources or facilities do you believe your organisation needs to be consistent with

your response to Q5?

Section E: Opportunities, Synergies and Barriers

8. Of the new resources you have identified as appropriate for the plasma challenges ahead,

please indicate how you believe their provision can best be achieved. Please distinguish be-

tween national facilities that would be available to the community in general, and organisa-

tional provision that would be restricted to targeted groups.

9. Please comment on the extent to which existing national facilities could be harnessed in the

pursuit of new plasma challenges, identifying where necessary any requisite developments.

10. In your opinion, are there synergies with other research areas, not necessarily traditional

plasma groups, which could lead to joint research strategies that might deliver enhanced re-

sources overall? Please elaborate.

11. Finally, please discuss briefly any significant obstacles to developing your vision for plasma

research in the UK that you perceive.

12. Are there any other comments you would like to make that are not covered elsewhere in

your response?

16.3 GUIDANCE FOR PLASMA VISIONS QUESTIONNAIRE

On behalf of the Institute of Physics, the Plasma Physics Group Committee invites you to participate

in a survey of plasma research activity in the UK.

Prime motivation:

The principal aim of this initiative is to construct a comprehensive picture of where plasma research

in all areas currently stands, and how we as a community want it to develop over the next 5–10

years. It is hoped that the final document will be useful as a reference for researchers wishing to

plan new activity in the plasma area, and for policy makers to understand the positive and optimistic

vision of the creative communities that pursue plasma research in the UK.

Responses are invited from all plasma researchers across all areas (pure and applied) in which plas-

ma science plays an important role, though it would be helpful in terms of the volume of material if

research teams could provide collective responses.

Please note that if your organisation already has a declared strategy, we would be happy to include

it in its entirety as an appendix, with the corollary that answers to the questions below may simply

be references to that document. Please help us to keep track of additional submissions by supplying

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details of any policy attachment, and let us know if we have permission to publish it in an appendix.

If you are unsure, please select the option ‘Please contact me’ and we will be in touch.

Note that all entries will be treated in confidence. All respondents have the following submission

paths: (1) to email the Institute of Physics (email address below) with a pdf of their entry, or (2) use

conventional mail to return a completed form. Option (1) is preferred, since it minimises the compi-

lation task.

The following explanatory notes offer guidance on completing the questionnaire.

Section A: Identification Details

Please supply your contact details. Since we would welcome responses made on behalf of a team or

organisation, if you are making a group response, please be sure to identify the members.

Section B: Current Activity

In this section, we are trying to gather information about the perceived strengths of the UK plasma

community, in all areas of plasma research.

Q1: Please do not feel that you can only comment on your own sphere of activity; we would wel-

come positive comments about all aspects here.

Q2: By describing in detail your own activity (or that of your group, if this is a team response), we

can build up a definitive guide to expertise across the UK.

Q3: This information is useful in building up a picture of staff effort in plasma physics, and will be

used to underline the significance of the research across a range of UK sectors.

Section C: New Challenges

The purpose of this section is to collate expert opinion on what the next exciting developments in

plasma research will be. Note that this section is designed to elicit informed speculation, so that

readers of the final report may be inspired to follow such leads. Respondents therefore are invited

to think beyond any current institutional or commercial constraints in their reply to the first ques-

tion; the second question deals with specific organisational targets. Please feel free to answer either

or both questions.

Please note that the Institute of Physics understands the commercial and IP sensitivities that could

be a significant factor in any response here; what is being sought is information that can be put in

the public domain, and used to help policy makers, funders and future researchers be aware of fu-

ture potential.

Note also that activity based outside the UK is perfectly acceptable for consideration here: we are

looking to developments in plasma physics as a discipline. Sections D and E address how the UK re-

search community could and should be engaged in future progress.

Section D: Resources

This section is all about defining what future resources will be needed to meet any new challenges

defined in Section C. In keeping with the underlying theme of setting out a vision, please be as ex-

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pansive as is consistent with earlier responses. The new resources or facilities envisaged here may

be in the process of being provided already, or may be entirely new. The feasibility of providing such

resources will be addressed in Section E; please don’t let such considerations restrict your response

here.

It is understood that commercial or IP sensitivities may restrict your answer here, but please be as

informative as you can.

Section E: Opportunities, Synergies and Barriers

Here we are inviting respondents to describe how we can secure and develop the resources for the

UK, in order to maintain or expand plasma science activity in this country.

In some cases, this will mean securing university or industrial facilities restricted to local use; in other

cases, access to UK or International facilities. Perhaps some of these facilities exist already, or have

not been viewed so far as being important to future plasma physics activity: Q8, 9.

Moreover, there may be new scientific or commercial communities with whom plasma researchers

could usefully engage in pursuit of fresh research avenues (for example, plasma physics applications

in medicine or biology or environmental applications): Q10.

Clearly, financial restrictions will be a factor here, as in every research activity. However, there may

be other structural issues that might play a part in restricting development – research council or

government priorities, public perception, regulatory or taxation frameworks, challenges in working

in interdisciplinary areas, commercial markets – please record all pertinent obstacles: Q11.

Returning your questionnaire:

You can return your questionnaire by email to [email protected], which is a special email box

set up for this process. Only IOP Science Policy staff and Plasma Physics Group Committee members

have access to the collected questionnaires, which will be retained exclusively by the IOP.

If you prefer to return your questionnaire by conventional post, please send it to

Tajinder Panesor,

Manager, Science Policy,

The Institute of Physics,

76 Portland Place,

London W1B 1NT

If you have any queries please contact either Tajinder Panesor at the Institute of Physics

([email protected]) or Declan Diver, the Chair of the Plasma Physics Group Committee

([email protected]).

Deadline for completed entries: Please return your completed questionnaire as soon as possible.

Note that we will begin compiling the report shortly after the end of Aug, and therefore contribu-

tions received after 31 Aug 2010 may not be included in the overall document.

For further information about this report, please contact:Sophie Robinson

76 Portland PlaceLondon W1B 1NT Tel +44 (0)20 7470 4887Fax +44 (0)20 7470 4848E-mail [email protected]

Registered charity number: 293851Scottish charity register number: SC040092

The report is available to download from our website and if you require an alternative format please contact us to discuss your requirements.

The RNIB clear print guidelines have been considered in the production of this document. Clear print is a design approach that considers the requirements of people with visual impairments. For more information, visit www.rnib.org.uk.

UK Plasma Visions: the state of the matterReport prepared by the Institute of Physics Plasma Physics Group

This publication was produced by IOP using sustainably sourced materials.

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