Center for Plasma-Material Interactions
The Center for Plasma Material Interactions (CPMI) is the premiere plasma research group at the University of Illinois (UIUC) based within the Department of Nuclear, Plasma and Radiological Engineering. CPMI covers all types of plasma from the low-density high temperature “fusion plasmas” to low temperature, high density “atmospheric plasmas” and everything in between.
Plasma is one of the four fundamental states of matter in the universe and makes up over 95% of all the visible matter in the universe. A plasma is matter that has enough energy put into it whereby the outer electron(s) have been stripped off and you have a soup of negatively charged electrons and positively charged atoms (ions). Even though the overall charge state of the plasma is zero (neutral) the individual charge particles can subject to the electric and magnetic fields and forces. This we can use these to manipulate the plasma into doing many different things from altering surfaces, depositing thin films of material and fusing ions together to produce vast amounts of energy!
CPMI’s objective is to research not just the science but also develop the technologies that are associated with plasmas and how they interact and behave with materials. No matter what we try and do, plasmas will always interact with a surface or background material and understanding the fundamental mechanisms of how this happens and how to use it to our advantage underpins almost every single aspect of our lives. Within the lab’s walls we are able to develop all the early stages of technology readiness levels (TRL) up to the point where we can then have the Illinois Plasma Institute (IPI) take over and further develop technologies with industrial partners.
Currently, there are 5 faculty and professors, 2 postdocs, 1 staff, and over 30 graduate students. Projects are supported by government, commercial, and private partners to further the application and knowledge of plasma physics and plasma material interactions. We provide opportunities to undergraduates for part-time employment to work on interesting research projects We strongly believe that the engagement of undergraduate students in research has a strong correlation with their improved academic performance and retention. We offer specific and cutting-edge research trainings that confer various benefits on participating undergraduate students, particularly research foundational skills critical for graduate school and specialized careers in scientific and engineering disciplines.