Plasma and Fusion Science: From Fundamental Research to Technological Applications

In this new book, an interdisciplinary and international team of experts provides an exploration of the emerging plasma science that is poised to make the plasma technology a reality in the manufacturing sector. The research presented here will stimulate new ideas, methods, and applications in the field of plasma science and nanotechnology.

Plasma technology applications are being developed that could impact the global market for power, electronics, mineral, and other fuel commodities. Currently, plasma science is described as a revolutionary discipline in terms of its possible impact on industrial applications. It offers potential solutions to many problems using emerging techniques. In this book the authors provide a broad overview of recent trends in field plasma science and nanotechnology.

Divided into several parts, Plasma and Fusion Science: From Fundamental Research to Technological Applications explores some basic plasma applications and research, space and atmospheric plasma, nuclear fusion, and laser plasma and industrial applications of plasma. A wide variety of cutting-edge topics are covered, including:

• basic plasma physics

• computer modeling for plasma

• exotic plasma (including dusty plasma)

• industrial plasma applications

• laser plasma

• nuclear fusion technology

• plasma diagnostics

• plasma processing

• pulsed power

• space astrophysical plasma

• plasma and nanotechnology

Pointing to current and possible future developments in plasma science and technology, the diverse research presented here will be valuable for researchers, scientists, industry professionals, and others involved in the revolutionary field of plasma and fusion science.

B. Raneesh, PhD, is currently an Assistant Professor in the Department of Physics, Catholicate College, Pathanamthitta, Kerala, India. His current research interests include nanomultiferroics, metal oxide thin films, plasma science, and electron microscopy. He has published many research articles in peer-reviewed journals and co-edited one book. Dr. Raneesh has received his MSc and MPhil degrees from Bharathiar University, Coimbatore, India, and PhD in physics from Mahatma Gandhi University, Kerala, India.

Dr. Nandakumar Kalarikkal is the Director of the International and Inter University Centre for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology as well as an Associate Professor in the School of Pure and Applied Physics at Mahatma Gandhi University, Kerala, India. His current research interests include synthesis, characterization, and applications of various nanostructured materials, laser plasma, and phase transitions. He has published more than 80 research articles in peer-reviewed journals and has co-edited seven books. Dr. Kalarikkal obtained his Master’s degree in physics with a specialization in industrial physics and his PhD in Semiconductor Physics from Cochin University of Science and Technology, Kerala, India. He was a postdoctoral fellow at NIIST, Trivandrum, and later joined Mahatma Gandhi University, Kerala, India.

Mr. Jemy James obtained his Integrated MSc. degree in photonics from Cochin University of Science and Technology, Kochi, Kerala, India. He is currently pursuing his PhD program in International and Inter University Centre for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology at Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam, Kerala, India. His current research interests include laser plasma and polymer nanocomposites.

Ms. Anju K. Nair is currently a Research Scholar in the International and Inter University Centre for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology at Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam, Kerala, India. Her current research interests include graphene-based hybrid structures for sensing applications. She received her MSc and MPhil degrees in physics from Mahatma Gandhi University, Kerala, India.

Professor Sabu Thomas is the Founder and Director of International and Inter University Centre for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology and a Professor of Polymer Science and Engineering in the School of Chemical Sciences of Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam, Kerala, India. Dr. Thomas’s groundbreaking inventions in polymer nanocomposites, polymer blends, and green bionanotechnological and nano-biomedical sciences have made transformative differences in the development of new materials for automotive, space, housing, and biomedical fields. Prof. Thomas has received a number of national and international awards, which include the Fellowship of the Royal Society of Chemistry, distinguished Professorship from the Josef Stefan Institute, Slovenia, the MRSI medal, a CRSI medal, and the Prof. Sukumar Maithy award for best polymer reseracher. Prof. Thomas has also been honored with the Honorary Causa degree by the University of South Brittany, France. He is in the list of the most productive researchers in India and holds 5th position. Professor Thomas has published over 600 peer-reviewed research papers, reviews, and book chapters. He has co-edited 35 books published by the Royal Society, Wiley, Wood Head, Elsevier, CRC Press, Springer, Nova, etc. He has four patents to his credit. The h-index of Prof. Thomas is 67 and has more than 16,500 citations.

Ravi A. V. Kumar, PhD, has been with the Institute for Plasma Research (IPR), Gandhinagar, Gujarat, India since 1993 as a Scientist and was involved in India’s first experimental microwave FEL program at IPR. He is currently heading both the Accelerator as well as Computer Divisions at IPR. He has been a recipient of the Japan Society for Promotion of Science (JSPS) Fellowship during the year 1999–2001 at Osaka University, Japan, where he worked extensively on linear accelerator-based far-infrared free-electron lasers. His current research areas include linear accelerators, laser-produced plasma, plasma wakefield acceleration, FEL, etc. Dr. Kumar received his MSc degree in physics from Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam, Kerala and his PhD degree in physics from the Cochin University of Science and Technology, Kerala, India.