Fundamental processes and applications of particle transport in non-equilibrium plasmas, traps and nanostructures

?he top research priority in plasma physics in the period from 2010 to 2020, according to the USA National Research Council, is low temperature plasmas because of its direct influence on current and future technologies and great contribution to “economic security and prosperity”. Research proposed by this project includes: kinetic theory, atomic and molecular collision and transport data, micro discharges, breakdown in gases and liquids, atmospheric pressure non-equilibrium plasmas and biomedical and nanotechnology plasma applications. These research areas are also the main decadal priorities specified for the low temperature plasmas. The goal of the project is first to take full advantage of our recent results in transport theory, data, plasma modeling, new experiments in plasmas and gas breakdown and to develop applications in these fields. The next step is to expand our knowledge by pursuing microwave plasmas, plasma jets, and Pulsed Townsend experiments. At the same time we will apply our existing knowledge and facilities to new fields including positron transport and collisional traps. To understand these systems we need to study many body dynamics and apply it to different particles. We also plan to study multiple scattering in dense gases and liquids and understand the interaction between organic matter and plasma. Finally we will pursue applications in treatment of materials, nanostructuring of surfaces and most importantly in biomedicine.