Measurement of the downstream plume of a plasma thruster using a langmuir probe. #plasma #control

Turning plasma technology into an engineering discipline, it is necessary to understand, model and control the design and performance of plasma thrusters for space application there is a need for plasma measurement of the downstream plasma plume. One of the most useful plasma diagnostics is the Langmuir probe. First developed in GE laboratories as a …

How to design a plasma engine that shoots straight. To go where no one has gone before rather than around in circles!

Paper under review Review of Plasma drift in a low-pressure magnetized radio frequency discharge. Authors - D Gerst, S Cuynet, M Cirisan and S Mazouffre Date: February 2013 First Published in Plasma Sources Science and Technology 22(1) Relevant markets Energy - Plasma Fusion Travel - Space Plasma Engines General - Plasma Measurement A growing opportunity for plasma is the …

Plasma Rockets, non-thermal processes deliver faster results!

  A rocket engine is a can of gas at high pressure.  When the gas escapes it has a high velocity.  The gas particles travel in one direction with momentum  of the mass of the escaping gas particles times their velocity.  The net momentum remains zero because of  conservation of momentum, so the rocket (can) …

Plasma art, a new form of sculpture. #plasma @Alsimm0938 @emmafarrjar

For generations people have used a sharp edge to carve sculpture, a branch of the visual arts that operates in three dimensions.   In more recent times, new technologies have been introduced. One of the most versatile is plasma.   The plasma is generated in an arc using either direct current or alternating current. The current heats …

Plasma control. Can earth based plasma be engineered? #plasma #fusion

One of the most natural things to see is the flickering of a candle flame. The flicker is caused by a chemical reaction in the weak plasma flame.  It is a simple example of a plasma instability.  Other types of instabilities are driven by electrical charges alone. These reaction are much faster, too fast for …

Stream of plasma consciousness. Should we ignore alternative viewpoints? #science #fakenews

In this modern world of the internet we are reverting back to tribes. Have you ever been asked a question by someone and just not want to interact because you know they come from a different tribe. As a scientist, I belong to the facts tribe. I do not have opinions, I do not believe …

Wave generation and heat flux suppression in astrophysical plasma systems #plasma #astronomy

In a space plasma there are few neutral particles.  The pressure is close to a vacuum.  So in general a plasma will be colllisionless.  Heat will flow from the hot surface such as the sun's surface to a cold surface, further out in space.  The magnetic fields are generated by current flows but the magnitude …

Plasma assisted inkjet printing of silver lines. #printing

Inkjet printing technology are seen as novel techniques for the deposition of functional materials.  An example in the area of printed electronics is silver, as it exhibits high conductivity and reduced influence of corrosion due to the formation of conductive oxides. Stabilized nano-particles may be dispersed in organic solvents or water, and steps must be taken to avoid particles clogging …

Plasma in a sustainable economy. Recycle precious metals. #Sustainability

Tetronics says it is "Proud to be the most experienced plasma company in the World." It was established in 1964 to develop industrial applications for high temperature Plasma Arc technology.  Since then, the company has developed a reputation for producing high quality clean plasma technology for recovering materials and hazardous waste destruction. https://twitter.com/Tetronics/status/999276746024411136 It turns …

Top Plasma Scientists I admire – Katharine Blodgett #Science

Katharine Blur Blodgett was born January 10, 1898.  Her father was a patent attorney working for GE in Schenectady, NY.  She started working with GE as an assistant to Langmuir, one of the most famous plasma physicists from whom the name plasma derives. I have several things in common with Blodgett.  The first being a …