Celebrating the exceptional breadth and depth of UCLA-based research related to the fourth state of matter known as plasma, UCLA hosted Plasma Fest, a daylong symposium on Sept. 22 that was attended by 175 scientists from UCLA and beyond. The event included presentations, a poster session and discussions of fusion energy, basic plasma physics, space and astrophysical plasmas, math for plasma science, plasma-based accelerators, plasma-materials interactions, and space propulsion and other topics.
Plasma Fest was hosted by the Plasma Science and Technology Institute (PSTI), an organized research unit spanning seven UCLA departments in the physical sciences and engineering.
Frank Jenko, UCLA professor of physics and PSTI director, described the meeting as "remarkable" and said that interdisciplinary collaborations in emerging research areas are likely to result. UCLA has the largest university-based plasma research effort in the world, Jenko noted.
Visit the Plasma Fest website for a list of participants, their presentations and more. Plans are under way to host Plasma Fest again in Fall 2016.
