SUMMARY Most of the matter we are familiar with in everyday life comes in three states solid, liquid, or gas. But much more of the matter in the universe exists in a fourth state known as plasma. Plasmas are gaseous collections of electrically charged particles such as electrons and protons. Stars are primarily composed of hot plasmas. On Earth, plasmas are formed in lightning strikes and produce light in fluorescent bulbs. They are used to inscribe patterns in computer chips and other electronics, and are at the heart of the most promising nuclear fusion devices that may someday lead to an abundance of cheap, clean, and safe power sources.

The APS Division of Plasma Physics Annual Meeting is the world's largest yearly gathering of plasma physicists, with more than 1500 attendees presenting 1425 papers covering the latest advances in plasma-based research and technology.

HIGHLIGHTS: Here is a sampling of some of the topics and events that will be included at the 46th annual Division of Plasma Physics meeting.

1. Compact Particle Beams for Science and Medicine
2. Plasma Window Leads to New Welding Technique
3. Taming Plasma Bursts to Ensure Fusion Chamber Survival
4. Progress in Direct-Drive Inertial Fusion Research
5. X-Ray Vision for the Earth's Most Powerful X-Ray Source
6. New Measurements Link Theory and Experiment in Plasma Heating
7. Plasma Sciences Expo Open to the Public

Compact Particle Beams for Science and Medicine

New techniques for accelerating electrons are producing tightly focused, energetically uniform beams in compact devices that will be ideal for numerous scientific and medical applications. The accelerators, known as laser wakefield devices, are on
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Contact: James Riordon
riordon@aps.org
301-209-3238
American Physical Society
3-Nov-2004