The goal of TT is to strategically inform and be informed by discovery/hypothesis-driven foundational research (FR) in Plasma Science and Engineering (PSE). The synergy between these dual pursuits justifies a need for coordinated advances in both FR and TT and provides the intellectual seed for future Generations. TT addresses the translation of plasma science to problems of societal import, including Goals I and II from two of the six Decadal 2020 Grand Challenges. The projects chosen as the TT focus are ones that have societal impact, clearly aligned with the AL S&T plan and AESSTR (4.1), reflect FTPP research strengths, are linked to an FR1 or FR2 topic, and address two challenges identified in Plasma Decadal 2020.
The specific research topics of TT will focus on:
- Plasma-aided synthesis of novel materials including interfacial engineering in quantum materials.
- Plasma reprocessing of waste materials to produce polymer composites for various applications.
- Plasma treatment of soft and biomatter including a) biomaterials and b) plant seeds.
- Food safety and sterilization to increase quality and shelf-life of food using LTP.
- Space weather fore/nowcasting to prevent damage to critical infrastructure in space and on ground.
TT1: Plasma-aided synthesis of novel materials
including interfacial engineering in quantum materials
Objective TT1a: Developing and validating machine learning models for high-entropy materials.
Objective TT1b: Laser plasma synthesis and computationally guided discovery of superconducting materials and heterostructures.
TT2: Plasma reprocessing of waste materials
to produce polymer composites for various applications
Objective TT2a: Plasma surface modifications of carbon fibers extracted from waste carbon-fiber reinforced composites
Objective TT2b: Plasma modification of biobased carbon.
Objective TT2c: Plasma modification of biobased materials for food packaging and biomedical applications.
TT3: Plasma treatment of soft/bio-matter
including biomaterials and plant seeds
Objective TT3a: LTP-enabled synthesis of nanoparticles for incorporation as antimicrobials…
Objective TT3b: Plasma enhanced activation of antimicrobial compounds for releasing therapeutic agents and application in medicine.
Objective TT3c: Atmospheric pressure plasmas in agriculture…
TT4: Food safety & sterilization
to increase quality and shelf-life of food using LTP
Objective TT4: Studying the efficacy of LTP to eliminate foodborne pathogens, spoilage microorganisms and quality parameters of foods including poultry products as well as lowmoisture foods.
TT5:space weather
fore/nowcasting to prevent damage to critical infrastructure in space and on ground
Objective TT5a: Radiation, Interplanetary Shocks, and Coronal Sources (RISCS) development.
Objective TT5b: Wind – Magnetosphere – Ionosphere (WINDMI) Storm – Substorm Model and Energetic Particles.
Objective TT5c: Space Weather Module