Research

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What are Strongly Coupled Plasmas ?

Plasmas with the average potential energy comparable to or exceeding the average kinetic energy of component species are "Strongly Coupled." SCPs can reflect in different states of matter and mostly with mixed traits. Their thermodynamics and transport show dependence on their coupling strength. Examples are ultracold plasmas, dense plasmas, and dusty plasmas.

The charged particle motion in a one component plasma at different coupling strengths and at shielding parameter value of 0.1. Particles interact via pairwise Debye–Hückel potential.

A 2D charged dust layer created in Shivalik Plasma Laboratory (SPL) (Top view)

Dusty Plasma crysrtal in Shivalik Plasma Laboratory

Electrons, ions, highly charged dust grains, and neutral atoms or molecules together form the multispecies "Dusty" plasma. Due to the high charge, dust species are typically found in strongly coupled states and show traits like solid, liquid, and gas. As the dynamics of dusty plasma are slow (~Hz) and scalelength is large (~cm), different physical phenomena can be visualized through camera diagnostics. It makes dusty plasma an excellent test-bed to demonstrate other physics properties that otherwise are not-so-easy to diagnose.

Levitation of dusty plasma layer in RF based dusty plasma experiment.

Nonlinear excitations of dust density waves in dusty plasma experiments at SPL

Nonlinear excitations of waves and turbulence in dusty plasma experiments

Experimental investigation of nonlinear dynamics, with particular emphasis on the formation and evolution of waves, vortices, shock waves, and void interactions in diffused dusty plasma created using DC power supply.

Dust vortex rotation in dusty plasma experiment, [L] Rotating charge dust cloud. [R] Vorticity for velocity field.

Plasma Agriculture

With the world’s population growing rapidly, the demand for food continues to rise every day. To keep up, conventional farming has come to depend heavily on chemical fertilisers and pesticides — but their overuse is degrading soil health and making our food less safe for consumption.

At Shivalik Plasma Lab, we are exploring sustainable and non-conventional ways to boost crop productivity without harming the environment. Modern research is shifting towards innovative techniques such as ozonation, radiation treatment, biostimulants, thermal/non-thermal methods, and RNA interference (RNAi) technology. Among these, one of the most promising frontiers is non-thermal cold plasma (NTCP) treatment of seeds.

Our team is using Dielectric Barrier Discharge (DBD) RF plasma for direct seed treatment and creating Plasma Activated Water (PAW) for indirect treatment. Both approaches aim to develop an eco-friendly, efficient alternative to traditional chemical-based methods of improving crop yield. Plasma treatment stands out as a clean, non-invasive technology that alters only the surface properties of seeds, enhancing water absorption, breaking dormancy, and accelerating germination, all without affecting the internal seed structure.

Globally, cold plasma is showing exceptional promise in improving seed performance and stress resilience. At Shivalik Plasma Lab, we’re proud to be part of this growing field, pioneering sustainable plasma-based solutions for the future of agriculture.

Turbulence induced due to Kelvin Helmholtz instability in dusty plasma system: A molecular dynamics simulation

Turbulence in Strongly Coupled Plasmas

We investigate the turbulence in strongly coupled plasmas using Molecular Dynamics Simulations. We focus on understanding nonlinear flow behavior, viscoelasticity, energy transport, and turbulence in strongly coupled plasma systems. Using large-scale molecular dynamics simulations, we explore how inter-particle correlations, flow shear, and elastic stresses influence turbulence, structure formation, and non-Newtonian responses in Yukawa fluids. This work naturally connects to broader themes in soft matter physics, rheology, viscoelastic turbulence, and complex flows.

Phase separation is binary plasma mixture.

Binary Phase separation in dusty plasmas: A Molecular Dynamics Study

Phase separation is the process by which a uniform mixture spontaneously separates into distinct regions with different properties. We study phase separation in binary strongly coupled plasmas (BSCPs), focusing on ultracold and dusty plasmas where heterogeneity in the screening parameter $\kappa$ drives domain formation.

The equation of state of beryllium at 300 K is calculated using DFT-MD simulations.

High temperature and pressure systems

We focus to study the properties of beryllium at high temperatures and pressures (extreme) conditions Using DFT-MD simulations,

The laser pulse propagates in the plasma (region II) from the left side of the box.

LASER plasm interaction

We investigate laser–plasma interactions using Particle-In-Cell (PIC) simulations to capture the self-consistent dynamics between charged particles and electromagnetic fields. This approach help us to explore nonlinear processes such as plasma wave excitation, particle acceleration, and energy transfer mechanisms.

Trackable space debris around Earth. [L] 2018. [R] 2030.

Space Charge Debris

We investigate the electrical charging and electrostatic surface potentials of space debris in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) and Geostationary Orbit (GEO) within the Earth's ionosphere. Using an improved Orbital Motion Limited (OML) model and Particle-In-Cell (PIC) simulations performed with the open-source SPIS code, we provide theoretical and computational insights into space object charging dynamics.

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