The National Science Foundation (NSF) awarded a $597,571 Project Grant under the Mathematical and Physical Sciences (CFDA 47.049) program to the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) to advance knowledge and understanding of multi-scale phenomena in a real plasma. The award enables the continuation of an experimental exploration of eruptive plasma behavior in a laboratory setting under conditions similar to those on the Sun and in other astrophysical objects. The research focuses on studying observed X-ray generation in a magnetized, relatively cold plasma, which has relevance to solar flares and their potential impacts on spacecraft and electric power grids. The project will also engage a local high school with a majority of underrepresented minority students to motivate interest in science and encourage careers in plasma physics or other STEM fields. The award has been deemed worthy of support by NSF based on its intellectual merit and broader societal impacts.
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