Numerical simulations of plasmas for applications

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Plasmas have vary wide range of scientific and practical applications in our modern societies, including astrophysics, nanofabrication, nuclear fusion, sterilization of medical instruments, surface funtionalization, home lighting, etc. Plasmas are known to be very complex due to the interaction between several particle species, including positively and negatively charged ions, atoms, molecules, radicals, electrons, photons, and eventually nanoparticles, and to its high responsivity to self-induced and external electromagnetic fields, including laser fields. In particular, electrons, due to their small mass, generally have a complicated energy distribution but knowing it is essential to quantify most critical processes taking place in plasmas. For this reason, numerical modeling has always been an intrinsic and essential component of plasma physics. This research program aims at developing further several aspects of numerical plasma physics. The benefits of this research will include, for example, understanding (i) non-equilibrium plasma discharges, which exhibit distinctive properties compared to equilibrium plasmas and which can potentially be exploited in various applications, and (ii) the generation of nanoparticles in magnetized plasmas for applications in astrophysics and nuclear fusion. This research program will be a unique opportunity to train highly qualified personnel in this fascinating field of study.