McWilliams Plasma Physics Laboratory

Plasma, matter so hot it is ionized, is found throughout Nature. Plasma physics is studied extensively in the laboratory at the University of California, Irvine where many natural plasma phenomena may be simulated and where the underlying physics may be explored. The Department of Energy and National Science Foundation are the principal sources of research funding for the basic plasma physics research done here. Laboratory information is on the following pages.
Experiments: The principal activity of the laboratory is basic experimental plasma physics investigations. The Experiments page provides overviews of each major area of lab focus.
People: Associates of the laboratory and how to contact them. Associates include faculty, research physicists, engineers, graduate students, undergraduates, and alumni. Present lab members and careers of people who were here.
Lab Publications: The archived records of the laboratory give handy references for specific technical questions.
Collaborations: The lab has active collaborations with research groups at the Korean Advanced Institute for Science and Technology (KAIST), the University of San Diego, West Virginia University, and the University of California, Los Angeles.
Presentations: Recent invited talks, seminars, and colloquia.
Physics 15: Course support material for students
Physics 197: Course support material for students
Interactions Jazz Ensemble: Need a jazz group for on-campus or off-campus events?
APS 2007 DPP: Posters from APS Devision of Plasma Physics 2007 conference.

The Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis) are part of the plasma surrounding Earth in its ionosphere and magnetosphere. Photo: J. Curtis	A recent solar flare, viewed through a blue filter, on our most important plasma, the Sun. Photo: NASA	View of argon plasma through quartz vacuum window in laboratory experiment.	Comet Hale-Bopp displays its tails containing plasma. Photo: D. Toohey