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It has been estimated that plasma, the fourth state of matter, occupies approximately 99% of matter in the visible universe. As can be seen below the ionized gas that constitutes plasma has created unmatched beauty across the universe as well as here on earth. Solar prominences illustrate how plasma "tracks" magnetic field lines.  

Plasma in the Universe

Deep-field Hubble image illustrates galaxies galore. Hubble Gallery Site

Hubble image of Crab nebula  displays the beauty of plasma in the universe. Hubble Gallery Site

Image from SOHO observatory of prominence erupting from surface of sun. Plasma is lofted above the solar  surface by magnetic fields. SOHO Gallery

Click on thumbnails to enlarge.

The aurora borealis, or northern lights, observed in the northernmost latitudes are also created by the flow of charged particles from the solar wind guided by earth's magnetic field in the Polar regions. In the southern hemisphere a similar display occurs, known as the aurora australis (or southern dawn). This flow of charged particles ionizes gases, such as oxygen, creating the swirling curtains of colored light.

Plasma on Earth

Aurora in Alaska, see more images at: Home of the Northern Lights

Complete view of START spherical torus plasma at the Cullham laboratories UK EFDA Gallery

Pellet fueling of hot fusion laboratory  plasma (ASDEX, Germany). EFDA Gallery

The energy of our sun comes from fusion reactions between light elements. This converts mass to energy primarily in the form of radiation.  Every second, the sun turns 600 million tons of hydrogen into helium, releasing an enormous amount of energy. The sun confines the hot plasma through gravitational forces. Fusion energy research has the goal of creating a star here on earth!  Magnetic fields are used to confine the hot plasma within a toroidal vacuum vessel - see photographs of the START spherical torus and the ASDEX tokamak.

The UCLA Plasma Diagnostics Group (PDG) develops state-of-the-art
 diagnostics to probe hot fusion plasmas and reveal their secrets

The UCLA Plasma Diagnostics Group (PDG) develops non-perturbing measurement systems to probe these hot plasmas. The group participates directly in the DIII-D, NSTX, MST and HSX fusion research programs.  In addition, the UCLA PDG is involved in preparing for the next major step in fusion energy research - the ITER project.  ITER is a joint international research and development project that aims to demonstrate the scientific and technical feasibility of fusion power. The project involves research scientists and engineers from around the world working together towards a new, virtually unlimited source of energy for mankind.

The planned "next-step" fusion plasma device, ITER, is shown above.
Note the physical scale: see person at lower right. Find out more at ITER.org

The current ITER participants are the European Union (represented by EURATOM), Japan, the
 People's Republic of China, India, the Republic of Korea, the Russian Federation and the USA

The UCLA Plasma Diagnostics Group has performed an assessment of the low field side
 reflectometry system planned for ITER. The Report can be found at PPPL.gov.