Queen's University Belfast Plasma Physics

Nine plasma physicists at Queen’s University Belfast are joining forces to build a unified research group spanning experiments, theory, and computation. The team will develop new computer models that can simulate laser-driven plasma dynamics on realistic timescales, track charged particles as they travel through dense matter, and probe the exotic states of warm dense matter and ultrahigh-intensity interactions. A low-temperature plasma experimentalist will bridge plasma physics with chemistry and surface science, pairing advanced diagnostics with computational modelling. The group also plans to coordinate a UK-wide, modular MSc programme in plasma physics, offering stand-alone courses for PhD students and industry professionals. This matters because plasma physics underpins technologies from fusion energy to semiconductor manufacturing, yet the UK lacks a coordinated, critical-mass research effort. If successful, the group’s models could accelerate the design of laser-driven particle accelerators, improve industrial plasma processing, and deepen understanding of matter under extreme conditions—knowledge that could eventually inform next-generation energy systems or medical devices. The teaching programme addresses a skills gap, training the next generation of plasma scientists. This is primarily fundamental science, but past work in plasma modelling has fed directly into innovations in microchip fabrication and cancer therapy.