Exploring high-energy-density physics with ultracold plasmas
Prof. Dr. Scott Bergeson (Physics and Astronomy, Brigham Young University, Provo, USA)

The pursuit of efficient plasma fusion is a quest to optimize the right kinds of ion-ion collisions -- the collisions that lead to fusion. These "good" collisions are glossed over in kinetic plasma models because they are theoretically messy, physically violent, somewhat rare, and impossible to measure directly. But we have learned how to slow collisions down and to measure them in real time using photo-ionized laser-cooled gases. The collisions that occur in these systems are similar, in a way, to those that occur at much higher temperature and density. I will talk discuss what we can learn in this low temperature environment and why it is interesting to high energy density plasmas.