Gravity was the focus of
20th century astrophysics

For the 21st century, it will be
electromagnetism and plasmas in addition.

This forthcoming scientific revolution is presaged by the rapid pace of discoveries about our own star, the Sun, and its total plasma environment.

NASA

References Parameters Research Sites for Plasma Astrophysics

Estimates of the filling fraction for ionized particles in the interstellar and intergalactic medium range from a few percent to 100 percent. As shown by Earth's ionosphere where the ionization fraction can be less than one percent, plasma processes can be important even for very low filling fraction. Plasmas are a combination of neutrals, ions, electrons and fields that have conductive and collective effects and where interparticle dynamics is not dominated simply by binary collisions. This condition applies for most astrophysical systems. Even though space plasmas usually maintain quasi-neutrality to within less than about 1 part per million, there can still be substantial currents, convection, plasma flows, plasma waves and shocks and other plasma effects that interconnect plasmas over vast expanse as demonstrated by direct measurements of solar system space plasmas. Radio jets, interstellar shocks, stellar systems (especially neutron stars), and many astrophysical phenomena now appear to involve important plasma effects. Plasma astrophysics is the cutting edge of 21st century astrophysics and cosmology studies.

Plasma Astrophysics References

Wolfgang Kundt, Astrophysics: A New Approach, Springer-Verlag, 2005.
Goedbloed and S. Poedts, Principles of Magnetohydrodynamics: With Applications to Laboratory and Astrophysical Plasmas, Cambridge, 2004.
Toshi Tajima, Computational Plasma Physics: With Applications to Fusion & Astrophysics, Perseus, 2004.
Arnoldo O. Benz, Plasma Astrophysics: Kinetic Processes in Solar and Stellar Coronae, Kluwer, 2002.
D. De Young, The Physics of Extragalactic Radio Sources, Chicago, 2002.
A. Choudhuri, The Physics of Fluids and Plasmas: An Intro for Astrophysicists, Cambridge, 1999.
Jorg Buchner, Plasma Astrophysics and Space Physics, Kluwer Academic Publ., 1999.
Vinod Krishan, Astrophysical Plasmas and Fluids, Kluwer Academic Publ., 1999.
Toshiki Tajima and Kazunari Shibata, Plasma Astrophysics, Addison-Wesley, 1997.
Plasma Astrophysics and Cosmology, A. L. Peratt, ed., Kluwer, 1995.
Progress in New Cosmologies: Beyond the Big Bang, H. Arp, C. Keys, K. Rudnicki, editors, Plenum, 1993.
Anthony L. Peratt, Physics of the Plasma Universe, Springer-Verlag, 1992.
Hannes Alfven, Cosmic Plasma, D. Reidel, 1981.

For the Scientist: Topical Group for Plasma Astrophysics, American Physical Society.
            Alternative Cosmology Group
            Critique of Big Bang framework; Plasma Cosmology alternative by Eric Lerner.
            Plasma Universe; "Plasma Universe" information and clarifications ("disclaimer") by Tony Peratt

Popularizations:
    Eric Lerner, The Big Bang Never Happened, New York: Times Books, 1991.
             (critiques and responses of Lerner's work are available at website above)
    Donald E. Scott , The Electric Sky, Portland: Mikamar Publishing, 2006.

Parameters for space and astrophysical plasmas
Adapted from T. Eastman, Transition regions in solar system and astrophysical plasmas
IEEE Transactions on Plasma Science, Vol. 18, No. 1, February, 1990, pp. 18-25
(not including stellar interiors).

Parameter

Solar Wind at 1 AU*

Outer Heliosphere

Planetary Boundary Layers

plasma density (cm-3)

5-60

0.001 - 0.1

0.05 - 50

thermal energy (eV)

1 - 50

0.1 - 10

5 - 5000

bulk speed (km/s)

200-800

10 - 100

10 - 1500

magnetic field (nanotessla)

1 - 20

<0.1 - 1

1 - 100

neutral density (cm-3)

<0.1

Parameter

Local Interstellar Medium

Stellar Winds

Hot, Ionized Medium

Warm, Ionized Medium

plasma density (cm-3)

0.01 - 1

0.1 - 1000

<0.001 - 10

0.1 - 10

thermal energy (eV)

1 - 100

10 - 10,000

0.5 - 1

bulk speed (km/s)

1 - 30

200 - 4000

1 - 30

magnetic field (nanotessla)

<0.1 - 1

0.5 - 50

0.01 - 10

0.01 - 2

neutral density (cm-3)

0.01 - 1

Parameter

Warm, Neutral Medium

Cool, Neutral Medium

Filaments, Cloud Edges, Shock Interfaces

plasma density (cm-3)

0.01 - 1

0.01 - 100

<1 - 1000

thermal energy (eV)

0.1 - 1

0.01 - 0.1

0.1 - 1000

bulk speed (km/s)

1 - 30

5 - 2000

magnetic field (nanotessla)

0.01 - 5

0.01 - 2

<1 - 1000

neutral density (cm-3)

0.1 - 10

1 - 10,000

Research Groups including Plasma Astrophysics (alphabetical by country)

Institute for the Physics of Plasmas, University of Buenos Aires, Argentina
Belgian Forum for Plasma Science including Centre for Plasma Astrophysics, Leuven, Belgium
Theory & Complex Plasmas, Max Planck-Institut fur Extraterrestrische Physik, Garching, Germany
dusty plasmas, plasma crystals, energetic galactic systems
Plasma Astrophysics Group, Thessaloniki, Greece
IPCF's Plasma Astrophysics, Institute for Chemical and Physical Processes, Pisa, Italy
laser-plasma interactions, dense plasma physics,
Laboratory for Plasma Astrophysics, Toyama University, Japan
US Russia Collaboration in Plasma Astrophysics, Russian Academy of Sciences, and Cornell University
Astronomy and Astrophysics, Dept of Physics and Astronomy, University of Glasgow, Scotland
radio astronomy (interplanetary scintillation), pulsar plasmas, solar flares, plasma simulations
ETHZ Radio Astronomy and Plasma Physics Group Zurich, Switzerland
Plasma Physics Group, Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine London, UK

U.S.-based Research Groups
Theoretical Astrophysics Center, University of California at Berkeley
Plasma Science & Technology Institute, UCLA, Los Angeles, California
Center for High Energy Density Plasmas, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York
Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa
Institute for Research in Electronics & Applied Physics, University of Maryland, College Park
Center for Space Research and Plasma Science & Fusion Center, MIT
Center for Theoretical Geo/Cosmo Plasma Physics, MIT
Program in Plasma Physics, Princeton University
graduate program in basic plasma physics, magnetic fusion, and plasma astrophysics
Space Physics & Astronomy, Rice University Houston, Texas
Toshi Tajima, University of Texas, Austin, Texas
Oliver Manuel, Dept of Chemistry, Univ. of Missouri-Rolla
cosmo-chemistry; isotope mass spectroscopy for origin of elements in the solar-system
section top page top


		Applications Overview \| Technology \| Basic Plasma Physics \| Space Plasmas \| Plasma Astrophysics \| Magnetic Confinement Fusion \| High Energy Density Physics \| Alternate Concepts for Fusion
						Gravity was the focus of 20th century astrophysics For the 21st century, it will be electromagnetism and plasmas in addition. This forthcoming scientific revolution is presaged by the rapid pace of discoveries about our own star, the Sun, and its total plasma environment.
		NASA
	References Parameters Research Sites for Plasma Astrophysics Estimates of the filling fraction for ionized particles in the interstellar and intergalactic medium range from a few percent to 100 percent. As shown by Earth's ionosphere where the ionization fraction can be less than one percent, plasma processes can be important even for very low filling fraction. Plasmas are a combination of neutrals, ions, electrons and fields that have conductive and collective effects and where interparticle dynamics is not dominated simply by binary collisions. This condition applies for most astrophysical systems. Even though space plasmas usually maintain quasi-neutrality to within less than about 1 part per million, there can still be substantial currents, convection, plasma flows, plasma waves and shocks and other plasma effects that interconnect plasmas over vast expanse as demonstrated by direct measurements of solar system space plasmas. Radio jets, interstellar shocks, stellar systems (especially neutron stars), and many astrophysical phenomena now appear to involve important plasma effects. Plasma astrophysics is the cutting edge of 21st century astrophysics and cosmology studies. Plasma Astrophysics References Wolfgang Kundt, Astrophysics: A New Approach, Springer-Verlag, 2005. Goedbloed and S. Poedts, Principles of Magnetohydrodynamics: With Applications to Laboratory and Astrophysical Plasmas, Cambridge, 2004. Toshi Tajima, Computational Plasma Physics: With Applications to Fusion & Astrophysics, Perseus, 2004. Arnoldo O. Benz, Plasma Astrophysics: Kinetic Processes in Solar and Stellar Coronae, Kluwer, 2002. D. De Young, The Physics of Extragalactic Radio Sources, Chicago, 2002. A. Choudhuri, The Physics of Fluids and Plasmas: An Intro for Astrophysicists, Cambridge, 1999. Jorg Buchner, Plasma Astrophysics and Space Physics, Kluwer Academic Publ., 1999. Vinod Krishan, Astrophysical Plasmas and Fluids, Kluwer Academic Publ., 1999. Toshiki Tajima and Kazunari Shibata, Plasma Astrophysics, Addison-Wesley, 1997. Plasma Astrophysics and Cosmology, A. L. Peratt, ed., Kluwer, 1995. Progress in New Cosmologies: Beyond the Big Bang, H. Arp, C. Keys, K. Rudnicki, editors, Plenum, 1993. Anthony L. Peratt, Physics of the Plasma Universe, Springer-Verlag, 1992. Hannes Alfven, Cosmic Plasma, D. Reidel, 1981. For the Scientist: Topical Group for Plasma Astrophysics, American Physical Society. Alternative Cosmology Group Critique of Big Bang framework; Plasma Cosmology alternative by Eric Lerner. Plasma Universe; "Plasma Universe" information and clarifications ("disclaimer") by Tony Peratt Popularizations: Eric Lerner, The Big Bang Never Happened, New York: Times Books, 1991. (critiques and responses of Lerner's work are available at website above) Donald E. Scott , The Electric Sky, Portland: Mikamar Publishing, 2006. Parameters for space and astrophysical plasmas Adapted from T. Eastman, Transition regions in solar system and astrophysical plasmas IEEE Transactions on Plasma Science, Vol. 18, No. 1, February, 1990, pp. 18-25 (not including stellar interiors).
		Parameter			Solar Wind at 1 AU*				Outer Heliosphere			Planetary Boundary Layers
		plasma density (cm-3)			5-60				0.001 - 0.1			0.05 - 50
		thermal energy (eV)			1 - 50				0.1 - 10			5 - 5000
		bulk speed (km/s)			200-800				10 - 100			10 - 1500
		magnetic field (nanotessla)			1 - 20				<0.1 - 1			1 - 100
		neutral density (cm-3)			0				<0.1			0
		Parameter		Local Interstellar Medium				Stellar Winds		Hot, Ionized Medium			Warm, Ionized Medium
		plasma density (cm-3)		0.01 - 1				0.1 - 1000		<0.001 - 10			0.1 - 10
		thermal energy (eV)		1 - 100				1 - 100		10 - 10,000			0.5 - 1
		bulk speed (km/s)		1 - 30				200 - 4000		1 - 30			1 - 30
		magnetic field (nanotessla)		<0.1 - 1				0.5 - 50		0.01 - 10			0.01 - 2
		neutral density (cm-3)		0.01 - 1				<1		0			<1
		Parameter	Warm, Neutral Medium				Cool, Neutral Medium				Filaments, Cloud Edges, Shock Interfaces
		plasma density (cm-3)	0.01 - 1				0.01 - 100				<1 - 1000
		thermal energy (eV)	0.1 - 1				0.01 - 0.1				0.1 - 1000
		bulk speed (km/s)	1 - 30				1 - 30				5 - 2000
		magnetic field (nanotessla)	0.01 - 5				0.01 - 2				<1 - 1000
		neutral density (cm-3)	0.1 - 10				1 - 10,000				1 - 10,000
Research Groups including Plasma Astrophysics (alphabetical by country) Institute for the Physics of Plasmas, University of Buenos Aires, Argentina Belgian Forum for Plasma Science including Centre for Plasma Astrophysics, Leuven, Belgium Theory & Complex Plasmas, Max Planck-Institut fur Extraterrestrische Physik, Garching, Germany dusty plasmas, plasma crystals, energetic galactic systems Plasma Astrophysics Group, Thessaloniki, Greece IPCF's Plasma Astrophysics, Institute for Chemical and Physical Processes, Pisa, Italy laser-plasma interactions, dense plasma physics, Laboratory for Plasma Astrophysics, Toyama University, Japan US Russia Collaboration in Plasma Astrophysics, Russian Academy of Sciences, and Cornell University Astronomy and Astrophysics, Dept of Physics and Astronomy, University of Glasgow, Scotland radio astronomy (interplanetary scintillation), pulsar plasmas, solar flares, plasma simulations ETHZ Radio Astronomy and Plasma Physics Group Zurich, Switzerland Plasma Physics Group, Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine London, UK U.S.-based Research Groups Theoretical Astrophysics Center, University of California at Berkeley Plasma Science & Technology Institute, UCLA, Los Angeles, California Center for High Energy Density Plasmas, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa Institute for Research in Electronics & Applied Physics, University of Maryland, College Park Center for Space Research and Plasma Science & Fusion Center, MIT Center for Theoretical Geo/Cosmo Plasma Physics, MIT Program in Plasma Physics, Princeton University graduate program in basic plasma physics, magnetic fusion, and plasma astrophysics Space Physics & Astronomy, Rice University Houston, Texas Toshi Tajima, University of Texas, Austin, Texas Oliver Manuel, Dept of Chemistry, Univ. of Missouri-Rolla cosmo-chemistry; isotope mass spectroscopy for origin of elements in the solar-system section top page top