🔬 Category

physics.plasm-ph

725 papers

Plasma physics explores the behavior of the fourth state of matter, a superheated soup of charged particles that makes up most of the visible universe. From the fusion power we hope to harness on Earth to the glowing auroras and distant stars above, this field investigates how these energetic gases interact with magnetic fields and light. It is a dynamic area where extreme conditions reveal fundamental laws of nature in ways solid matter never can.

At Gist.Science, we bridge the gap between these complex discoveries and curious minds by processing every new preprint from arXiv in this category. We transform dense, technical research into clear, plain-language explanations alongside detailed summaries, ensuring that breakthroughs in plasma dynamics and fusion energy are accessible to everyone. Below are the latest papers in plasma physics, curated and simplified for your reading.

🔬 physics

Informing spectral models for dense plasmas with K-edge absorption measurements of warm dense copper

This study utilizes K-edge x-ray absorption spectroscopy of warm dense copper at the OMEGA laser facility to demonstrate that while density functional theory-based models can capture key spectral features, current collisional-radiative models with ad-hoc density corrections fail to fully reproduce experimental data, highlighting the urgent need for improved density-dependent atomic modeling in warm dense plasmas.

T. Cordova, E. V. Marley, D. A. Chin, R. A. London, S. B. Hansen, S. M. Vinko, J. E. Pask, H. A. Scott, H. P. Le, D. Abe (…)2026-08-21
🔬 optics

Wavefront shaping of terahertz radiation using two-color flying-focus pulses with time-dependent focal velocities

This paper demonstrates that using two-color flying-focus pulses with a time-dependent focal velocity allows for dynamic control of the THz emission angle, enabling the generation of tailored wavefronts, such as parabolic shapes, which are ideal for efficient collection and focusing.

A. L. Elliott, H. Markland, K. G. Miller, S. W. Jolly, J. J. Pigeon, J. P. Palastro2026-08-21
🔬 physics

Numerical investigations of low-latitude ground magnetic fields due to cavity mode oscillations

This study utilizes a global linear MHD wave model to demonstrate that cavity mode oscillations driven by interplanetary shocks and the dense plasmasphere reproduce observed Pi2 pulsation characteristics, including specific harmonic structures and the rapid propagation of compressional Alfvén waves from the nightside to the dayside.

Khilav Majmudar, Robert L. Lysak, Kazue Takahashi2026-08-20
🔬 physics

Evolution of lunar wake potentials: structure, energy conversion, and their imprints on velocity distributions

This study reveals that the lunar wake's electric potential evolves through distinct macroscopic and microscopic scales that mediate a cyclic energy conversion between electron thermal energy and ion kinetic energy, ultimately shaping specific velocity distribution signatures like ion beams and electron flat-top distributions observed by ARTEMIS.

Xin An, Vassilis Angelopoulos, Jasper S. Halekas, Terry Z. Liu, Shaosui Xu, Andrew R. Poppe, Ferdinand Plaschke2026-08-20
🔬 physics

Trapping: The "Waterfall" of Vlasov-Poisson Dynamics and the Post-Transient Emergence of Drift-Independent Hole Structures in Collisionless Plasmas

This paper proposes using matched asymptotic expansions to bridge the theoretical gap between linear Landau damping and nonlinear trapping in collisionless plasmas, revealing how this "waterfall" transition selects specific Schamel equilibria and drives the self-acceleration of Langmuir holes through the release of deeply trapped electrons.

Hans Schamel2026-08-20
🔬 physics

High-power TCV scenario for conventional and alternative divertor studies

This paper presents a new high-power scenario on the TCV tokamak, utilizing 2.5 MW of electron cyclotron resonance heating to achieve reactor-relevant boundary plasma conditions and record parallel heat fluxes of up to 100 MW m⁻², thereby enabling the evaluation of alternative divertor configurations under power exhaust parameters comparable to future fusion reactors like SPARC, ITER, and ARC.

K. Lee, C. Theiler, M. Carpita, M. Zurita, P. Sintre, O. Février, F. Pastore, H. Reimerdes, K. Verhaegh, M. Winkel, D. B (…)2026-08-20
🔬 physics

Bootstrap Current Modeling in M3D-C1

This study enhances the M3D-C1 code by implementing self-consistent bootstrap current models based on generalized and revised Sauter frameworks, which are benchmarked against neoclassical codes to accurately simulate plasma equilibrium and stability in both axisymmetric and quasisymmetric configurations while providing a workflow to evaluate model errors in non-symmetric scenarios.

Saurabh Saxena, Nathaniel Ferraro, Mike F. Martin, Adelle M. Wright2026-08-19
🔬 physics

What Is the Minimum Number of Parameters Required to Represent Solutions of the Grad-Shafranov Equation?

This paper demonstrates that numerical solutions of the Grad-Shafranov equation under fixed-boundary conditions can be accurately represented using a unified spectral basis of Miller extended harmonics and shifted Chebyshev polynomials, requiring as few as 2–5 parameters for practical applications and fewer than 100 for complex configurations, thereby enabling the development of ultra-fast, high-fidelity solvers and efficient surrogate models for tokamak equilibria.

Huasheng Xie, Yueyan Li2026-08-19
🔬 physics

Development of a Reduced Multi-Fluid Equilibrium Model and Its Application to Proton-Boron Spherical Tokamaks

This paper presents a computationally robust reduced multi-fluid equilibrium model that captures critical centrifugal separation and electrostatic polarization effects in proton-boron spherical tokamaks, demonstrating that high ion rotation significantly alters plasma profiles and necessitates multi-fluid approaches for accurate reactor design.

Huasheng Xie, Xingyu Li, Jiaqi Dong, Zhiwei Ma, Yunfeng Liang, Yuejiang Shi, Wenjun Liu, Yueng-Kay Martin Peng, Lai Wei (…)2026-08-19