RII Track-1: Future Technologies and Enabling Plasma Processes

等离子体是可见宇宙中最丰富的物质形式。等离子体科学与工程(PSE)将基础等离子体科学的进步转化为满足社会需求的技术。这个未来技术和使能等离子体过程(FTPP)项目将开发由PSE实现的未来变革性技术，包括新材料的设计、农业应用、杀菌、食品安全和空间天气预报。拟议的基础性等离子体研究将把粒子动力学和能量流动的复杂性融入到理论、模型和实验中。这将导致在追求转型技术的过程中更好地理解、诊断、建模和控制这些过程。该项目整合了实验和理论等离子体研究的组成部分，以创建一支多样化和熟练的劳动力队伍，以加强该州的PSE能力。FTPP将由位于亨茨维尔的阿拉巴马大学与其他九所机构合作管理：阿拉巴马农业与机械大学、阿拉巴马州立大学、奥本大学、奥克伍德大学、塔斯基吉大学、阿拉巴马大学伯明翰分校、阿拉巴马大学塔斯卡卢萨分校和南阿拉巴马大学。计算流体动力学研究公司将与该项目合作，推动用于材料加工、航空航天、电子和能源应用的等离子体技术。未来技术和使等离子体过程(FTPP)项目的愿景是：1)开发硬材料和软材料(或生物)、食品安全和灭菌以及空间天气预报方面的变革性技术；以及2)建设等离子体科学与工程(PSE)研究及其支持劳动力的能力，使阿拉巴马州成为世界著名的PSE中心。基础等离子体研究将把粒子动力学和能量流的复杂性融入到理论、模型和实验中，以了解：1)由碰撞和集体过程(如湍流、自组织)介导的从电磁场到等离子体物种的能量转移；以及2)在实验室、电离层、磁层、太阳和日球层环境中，从大范围流动和磁场到产生高能粒子的能量和动量转移。PSE的这些基础研究活动将使未来的变革性技术成为可能，包括：1)等离子体合成、高熵和量子材料的数据驱动方法(解决美国国家科学基金会十大想法中的两个，“利用数据革命”和“量子飞跃”)；2)利用废物进行等离子体处理的聚合物复合材料；3)具有抗菌特性的表面改性生物材料和具有提高产量潜力的等离子体处理种子；4)食品安全和灭菌；以及5)空间天气预报，以预测地球空间辐射环境和保护天基技术。该项目所要求的资源和活动将建立和加强学术机构和行业之间的合作，从而提高全州促进低温等离子体科学和技术的研究和教育能力。核心研究计划与教育、劳动力发展和多元化计划很好地结合在一起，涵盖了学术、公共和私营部门。这一奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

Plasma is the most abundant form of matter in the observable universe. Plasma Science and Engineering (PSE) translates advances in fundamental plasma science to technologies that address society’s needs. This Future Technologies and Enabling Plasma Processes (FTPP) project will develop future transformational technologies enabled by PSE, including the design of novel materials, agricultural applications, sterilization, food safety, and space weather forecasting. The proposed foundational plasma research will incorporate the complexity of particle kinetics and energy flow into theory, models, and experiment. This will lead to better understanding, diagnosis, modeling, and control of these processes in pursuit of transformational technologies. The project integrates components of experimental and theoretical plasma research to create a diverse and skilled workforce to strengthen PSE capacity in the state. FTPP will be administered by the University of Alabama in Huntsville in collaboration with nine other institutions: Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical University, Alabama State University, Auburn University, Oakwood University, Tuskegee University, University of Alabama at Birmingham, University of Alabama Tuscaloosa, and University of South Alabama. The Computational Fluid Dynamics Research Corporation will partner with the project to advance plasma technologies for materials processing, aerospace, electronics, and energy applications.The vision of the Future Technologies and Enabling Plasma Processes (FTPP) project is to: 1) develop transformative technologies in hard and soft (or bio-) materials, food safety and sterilization, and space-weather prediction; and 2) build capacity in Plasma Science and Engineering (PSE) research and its supporting workforce, making Alabama a world-renowned hub for PSE. Foundational plasma research will incorporate the complexity of particle kinetics and energy flow into theory, models, and experiment to understand: 1) energy transfer from electromagnetic fields to plasma species mediated by collisions and collective processes (e.g., turbulence, self-organization); and 2) the transfer of energy and momentum from large-scale flows and magnetic fields to the creation of highly energetic particles in laboratory, ionospheric, magnetospheric, solar, and heliospheric environments. These foundational research activities in PSE will enable future transformational technologies including: 1) data-driven approaches in plasma-synthesized, high-entropy, and quantum materials (addressing two of NSF’s 10 Big Ideas, “Harnessing the Data Revolution” and “Quantum Leap”); 2) plasma-processed polymer composites from waste materials; 3) surface-modified biomaterials with antimicrobial properties and plasma-treated seeds with increased yield potential; 4) food safety and sterilization; and 5) space-weather fore/nowcasting to predict the geospace radiation environment and protect space-based technologies. The requested resources and activities of the project will establish and strengthen collaborations among academic institutions and industries, thereby enhancing the research and education capacity for the advancement of low-temperature-plasma science and technology across the state. The core research program is well integrated with education, workforce development, and diversity plans that span academic, public, and private sectors.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.