About Us

PSAC Overview

The Plasma Science and Applications Committee (PSAC) is a technical committee of the Nuclear & Plasma Sciences Society (NPSS) and was formed in 1973.  PSAC strives for the advancement of the theory and applications of plasma science and of its allied arts and sciences and the maintenance of high scientific and technical standards among its members.  This committee deals with research and development of the plasma state of matter. Since plasmas are conductive, responding to electric and magnetic fields, they are usable in numerous applications where such control is needed or when special sources of energy or radiation are required.

Fields of Interest

The fields of interest of PSAC are plasma science and related technologies and applications. PSAC fosters publication or other dissemination of original contributions to the theory, experiments, educational methods, and applications of plasma science and to the development of standards.

Areas of technical activity will include, but not be limited to, the following:

  1. Magnetohydrodynamics
  2. Thermionics and plasma diodes
  3. Basic plasma phenomena
  4. Gaseous electronics
  5. Microwave-­‐plasma interaction
  6. Electron, ion, and plasma sources
  7. Space plasmas
  8. Intense electron and ion beams
  9. Laser-­‐plasma interactions
  10. Plasma diagnostics
  11. Plasma chemistry and processing
  12. Solid-­‐state plasmas
  13. Plasma heating
  14. Plasmas for controlled fusion research
  15. High energy density plasmas
  16. Industrial, commercial, and medical applications of plasma science
  17. Plasma waves and instabilities
  18. High-­‐power microwave and submillimeter wave generation
  19. Pulsed power applications of plasmas