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Plasma Theory

Research group The plasma theory group focuses on plasma regimes where collective dynamics meet quantum mechanical and quantum electrodynamical (QED) theory. Quantum plasma effects become important in high-density plasmas, where the electron Fermi temperature exceeds the thermodynamic temperature of the system.

Methods to analyse these types of systems are based on the von Neumann equations for the density matrix and typically involve transformation techniques, for example, Wigner transformations and/or Foldy-Wouthuysen transformations. Quantum electrodynamical plasma effects become important in the regime of strong electromagnetic fields, which can be approached with modern high-intensity lasers, where the electromagnetic intensity may exceed 1022 W/cm2.  Theoretical studies are based on the so-called Dirac-Heisenberg-Wigner formalism, or on relativistic kinetic plasma theory complemented by QED transition rates for processes of interest, for example, nonlinear Compton scattering.

Head of research

Overview

Participating departments and units at Umeå University

Department of Physics

Research area

Physical sciences
Latest update: 2025-06-04