Plasma physics: Scientists to discuss fourth state of matter

Its study is important because around 99 per cent of the universe exists in plasma state.


Our Correspondent November 12, 2013
Its study is important because around 99 per cent of the universe exists in plasma state. PHOTO: FILE

ISLAMABAD:


Local and foreign scientists gathered at the National Centre for Physics (NCP) on Monday to participate in a five-day scientific conference, organised in collaboration with Italy’s Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics (ICTP).


The First ICTP-NCP International College on Plasma Physics, as the conference is officially called, is the “first regional activity of ICTP being organised in Pakistan,” said Dr Ishfaq Ahmad, Chairman of the NCP’s Board of Governors.

The conference deals with the science of what is known as the fourth state of matter: plasma. According to physicists at the conference, plasma is a collection of charged particles. Its study is important because around 99 per cent of the universe exists in plasma state.

Consequently, plasma physics research contributes to astrophysics, space science and controlled thermonuclear fusion, a nuclear reaction that joins two lighter atoms at very high temperatures to form a heavy atom, releasing tremendous amounts of energy in the process.

“The field of plasma physics is important to achieve a long-term solution for the increasing demand of energy in the world,” said NCP Director General Dr Hamid Saleem. “Scientists and engineers are engaged in finding out ways to control thermonuclear fusion reactions for producing electricity.”



Saleem, who said NCP has a research department dedicated to plasma physics, said if scientific efforts succeed then around the year 2050, humankind would be using electricity produced by the same nuclear fusion processes which occur on stars. The sun, for example, produces its energy by nuclear fusion of hydrogen nuclei.

The International College on Plasma Physics is being directed by SM Mahajan of the University of Texas, Z Yoshida of Japan’s University of Tokyo, J Niemela of the ICTP and Saleem from NCP.

Mahajan said the NCP collaborates with several universities and offers post doctoral and short-term fellowships to scholars from developing countries through the Third World Academy of Sciences, a unit within the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation.

Scientists and researchers from the US, Japan, China, Belgium, Italy, Russia, Uganda, Nigeria, Indonesia, Egypt, Jordan, Thailand and regional countries Nepal, India, Bangladesh and Iran are taking part in the conference.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 12th, 2013.

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