Theoretical plasma research at IIT Delhi was initiated by Prof. M. S. Sodha in the 1960s  whereas the experimental activities, with full support of Prof. M. S. Sodha,  were initiated by Prof. Ashish Ganguli in early 1980s that led to the establishment of the “Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPL:IITD)” under the Centre for Energy Studies [currently Department of Energy Science and Engineering] with collaborations from various faculty from the Department of Physics, IIT Delhi. The goals of the PPL:IITD lab evolved over a period as follows:

• Initially focused on high power microwave plasma interaction in conducting waveguides and helicon waves.

• Evolved into one of the first experimental plasma laboratories in an educational institution.

• Shifted focus to developing ECR-based plasma sources for various industrial and scientific applications.

• Expansion of research areas includes ECR-based plasma thrusters, large-area hydrogen beam sources, high-pressure ECR plasma sources, RF plasma diagnostics, plasma-based functional materials, atmospheric plasma jets, and their applications.

• Subsequently other theoretical and experimental labs were also established.

Currently, under DESE there are four experimental labs viz., “Plasma Physics Laboratory”, “ELNIBS Laboratory”, “Multifunctional Plasma Laboratory”, “Plasma Applications Laboratory” and one “Plasma Simulation Lab”, whereas the physics department has the following labs: “Plasma Waves & Particle Acceleration Lab”, “Theoretical Plasma Physics: Einstein Lab” and “Laboratory of Plasma Processing and Bio-physics” under the common banner “Plasma Science & Technology Group (PSTG:IITD)”.