Experimental plasma science
Atomic and Molecular Physics


Positrons in plasma
Characterising plasmas is difficult. This project will explore the possibilty of probing a plasma using positrons by building a model and simulating a positron beam incident on a low-temperature plasma.


Electron-liquid interface scattering
Low temperature plasmas are being exploited for new medical therapy techniques and in engineering applications in agriculture. This project explores the fundamental behaviour of how electrons penetrate a liquid surface, such as the skin of the body.
Biophysics


Low-temperature plasma nitrogen fixation for enhancing plant growth
Plasma agriculture is an innovative field that applies plasma to agriculture processes such as farming, food production, food processing, and food preservation. In agriculture, plasmas may be used to eradicate all microorganisms; bacterial, fungal and viral particles in fruit and vegetables.
Clean Energy


Efficient one-step plasma synthesis of high surface area nanostructures
This project aims to develop new plasma processing techniques which can be used to generate complex nanostructured surface morphologies on a range of mateirals. These materials have potential applications in a wide range of areas, including catalysis, high energy-density batteries, and anti-reflection coatings.
Fusion and Plasma Confinement


Nano-bubble formation in fusion relevant materials
Fusion energy promises millions of years of clean energy, but puts extreme stress on materials. This research will resolve scientific issues surrounding plasma-material interactions to guide and facilitate development of future advanced materials for fusion reactors.


Shocks transitions in nonuniform magnetic fields
Recent development of a flowing MHD model for the rotating, collisional column of MAGPIE plasmas discovered the intriguing prediction of opposite axial acceleration of the plasma ions in the subsonic and supersonic regimes. This project would examine the regime above, below, and through the shock.


Diagnosing plasma-surface interactions under fusion-relevant conditions
This project involves studying the complex plasma-surface interaction region of a fusion-relevant plasma environment through laser-based and spectroscopic techniques.


Turbulence and Particle transport in linear and toroidal magnetic geometries
Turbulence is known to affect the plasma in toroidal magnetic confinement devices for fusion, and linear magnetic devices. This project involves the use of langmuir probes on both the H-1 and MAGPIE devices for evaluating the total and fluctuation-induced particle flux and address fundamental physics of turbulence in these devices.
Materials Science and Engineering


Nano-bubble formation in fusion relevant materials
Fusion energy promises millions of years of clean energy, but puts extreme stress on materials. This research will resolve scientific issues surrounding plasma-material interactions to guide and facilitate development of future advanced materials for fusion reactors.


Diagnosing plasma-surface interactions under fusion-relevant conditions
This project involves studying the complex plasma-surface interaction region of a fusion-relevant plasma environment through laser-based and spectroscopic techniques.
Plasma Applications and Technology


Positrons in plasma
Characterising plasmas is difficult. This project will explore the possibilty of probing a plasma using positrons by building a model and simulating a positron beam incident on a low-temperature plasma.


Shocks transitions in nonuniform magnetic fields
Recent development of a flowing MHD model for the rotating, collisional column of MAGPIE plasmas discovered the intriguing prediction of opposite axial acceleration of the plasma ions in the subsonic and supersonic regimes. This project would examine the regime above, below, and through the shock.


Plasma-liquid interactions
Plasma–liquid interactions are an important topic in the field of plasma science and technology. The interaction of non-equilibrium plasmas with a liquid have many important applications ranging from environmental remediation to material science and health care.


Physics of pulsed negative ion plasmas
This project is concerned with studying pulsed electronegative plasmas which can open new frontiers for both basic and applied studies.


Efficient one-step plasma synthesis of high surface area nanostructures
This project aims to develop new plasma processing techniques which can be used to generate complex nanostructured surface morphologies on a range of mateirals. These materials have potential applications in a wide range of areas, including catalysis, high energy-density batteries, and anti-reflection coatings.


Low-temperature plasma nitrogen fixation for enhancing plant growth
Plasma agriculture is an innovative field that applies plasma to agriculture processes such as farming, food production, food processing, and food preservation. In agriculture, plasmas may be used to eradicate all microorganisms; bacterial, fungal and viral particles in fruit and vegetables.


Electron-liquid interface scattering
Low temperature plasmas are being exploited for new medical therapy techniques and in engineering applications in agriculture. This project explores the fundamental behaviour of how electrons penetrate a liquid surface, such as the skin of the body.


Turbulence and Particle transport in linear and toroidal magnetic geometries
Turbulence is known to affect the plasma in toroidal magnetic confinement devices for fusion, and linear magnetic devices. This project involves the use of langmuir probes on both the H-1 and MAGPIE devices for evaluating the total and fluctuation-induced particle flux and address fundamental physics of turbulence in these devices.