🔬 Category

physics.plasm-ph

534 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.

Fast prediction of plasma instabilities with sparse-grid-accelerated optimized dynamic mode decomposition

This paper demonstrates that combining sparse grid interpolation with (L)-Leja points and optimized dynamic mode decomposition enables the construction of highly efficient, predictive parametric reduced-order models for complex plasma instabilities, achieving evaluation speeds up to three orders of magnitude faster than high-fidelity simulations while requiring only a minimal number of training data points.

Kevin Gill, Ionut-Gabriel Farcas, Silke Glas, Benjamin J. Faber2026-02-03🔢 math

Characterization and automated optimization of laser-driven proton beams from converging liquid sheet jet targets

This paper presents a multi-Hz laser-driven ion acceleration platform using liquid sheet jet targets that achieves an 11% increase in maximum proton energy through real-time, closed-loop Bayesian optimization of the laser wavefront, demonstrating a pathway toward robust, high-repetition-rate ion sources.

G. D. Glenn, F. Treffert, H. Ahmed, S. Astbury, M. Borghesi, N. Bourgeois, C. B. Curry, S. J. D. Dann, S. DiIorio, N. P. Dover, T. Dzelzainis, O. Ettlinger, M. Gauthier, L. Giuffrida, R. J. Gray, J. S (…)2026-02-03🔬 physics

Ion-scale Turbulence and Energy Cascade Rate in the Solar Corona and Inner Heliosphere

This paper combines solar radio burst diagnostics with in-situ magnetic field measurements to characterize ion-scale turbulence and energy cascade rates from the low corona to 1 au, demonstrating consistency with kinetic Alfvén wave models and providing crucial predictions for plasma heating in regions inaccessible to direct spacecraft observation.

Eduard P. Kontar, A. Gordon Emslie, Daniel L. Clarkson, Alexander Pitna2026-02-03🔭 astro-ph

Frequency domain laser ultrasound for inertial confinement fusion target wall thickness measurements

This paper presents a non-destructive, contactless frequency domain laser ultrasound method utilizing zero-group velocity guided elastic wave resonances to accurately measure the wall thickness of millimeter-sized inertial confinement fusion capsules, with results that align excellently with infrared interferometry references.

Martin Ryzy, Guqi Yan, Clemens Grünsteidl, Georg Watzl, Kevin Sequoia, Pavel Lapa, Haibo Huang2026-02-03🔬 physics.optics

Machine Learning approach to modeling of neutral particles transport in plasma

This paper investigates a machine learning approach using neural networks to model the propagator for Monte-Carlo simulations of neutral particle transport in fusion plasmas, offering a fast, accurate, and differentiable solution that facilitates advanced time-integration and root-finding methods, though further research is needed to validate its scalability to larger systems.

M. V. Umansky, G. J. Parker, R. D. Smirnov2026-02-03🔬 physics

Linear Magnetohydrodynamic Waves in a Magneto-Lattice: A Unified Theoretical Framework and Numerical Validation

This paper establishes a unified theoretical framework and validates it numerically to demonstrate how spatially periodic magnetic fields (magneto-lattices) induce intrinsic bandgaps and split Alfvén waves, offering new insights for manipulating linear magnetohydrodynamic waves in structured plasmas.

Shiyu Sun, Peifeng Fan, Yulei Wang, Qiang Chen, Xingkai Li, Weihua Wang2026-02-03🔬 physics

Radiation-Driven Origin of Super-Equipartition Magnetic Fields in Accretion Discs and Outflows

This study demonstrates that anisotropic radiation fields in black hole accretion discs act as a primary generator of super-equipartition magnetic fields, which are rapidly amplified by Keplerian rotation and advected into outflows, providing a self-contained physical mechanism for the origin of large-scale magnetization in accretion systems without requiring external magnetic flux.

Mukesh Kumar Vyas, Asaf Pe'er2026-02-03🔭 astro-ph