Plasma Presentation by Bennett Husick

For nearly a century, physicists have been exploring the exotic properties of the often-overlooked fourth state of matter: plasma. While most plasma research has explored high-temperature plasmas like those produced in stars, there has been relatively little investigation of the strange properties of ultracold plasmas. Rice University undergraduate physicist and Shaw Island resident Bennett Husick will present the fascinating experimental techniques he and his team use to produce some of the coldest atoms in the universe.

Experiments with ultracold plasmas have allowed researchers at Rice University to probe never-before-seen properties of this exotic state of matter, including the theoretically predicted existence of shockwaves. Such experiments allow us – paradoxically – to mimic conditions in the incredibly hot cores of gas giants and white dwarf stars. With these powerful tools, we can gain insight into the bizarre behavior of matter under extreme conditions.

Whether you’re a physicist or just someone passionate about learning, we encourage you to join us at the Shaw Island Community Building on Saturday, August 5th at 1 pm to learn more about this new frontier of physics!