Department of Physics
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Plasma Physics (Physics/ECE/NE 922) Seminars
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Accelerating our understanding of the multi-scale dynamics of high-energy plasmas
Date: Monday, February 10th
Time: 12:05 pm - 12:55 pm
Place: 2241 Chamberlin Hall
Speaker: Paulo Alves, Stanford, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory
Abstract: At the core of many long-standing challenges in plasma physics, from controlling nuclear fusion to understanding the acceleration of the most energetic particles in the Universe, is the problem of capturing the multi-scale interplay between kinetic processes and global plasma dynamics. State-of-the-art kinetic simulations are beginning to capture a sufficiently large dynamical range to probe fundamental aspects of this interplay. Advances in experimental capabilities are further allowing us to closely validate theoretical/computational models, and even probe beyond the range of scales accessible to our largest simulations. Moreover, the increasing quantity and quality of plasma data being produced is creating new opportunities for innovation in the way we tackle these long-standing challenges.

In this talk, I will discuss how state-of-the-art kinetic simulations are beginning to unveil the physics interplay between kinetic plasma processes and global plasma dynamics in the context of magnetic field generation and particle acceleration in relativistic astrophysical outflows. I will also discuss how techniques from the fields of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning can help us take full advantage of the data from high-fidelity numerical simulations and experiments to accelerate the discovery of reduced descriptions of kinetic plasma processes, and improve the physics fidelity of multi-scale plasma models.
Host: Jan Egedal
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