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In a scientific first, South Korean scientists have provided experimental proof of "multi-scale coupling" in plasma, where interactions between phenomena at the microscopic level and macroscopic level influence each other. The findings could help advance nuclear fusion research and improve our fundamental understanding of the universe.

Plasma is often referred to as the fourth state of matter, distinct from solid, liquid and gaseous states. This unique state is formed when you heat a gas to such high temperatures that electrons are stripped away from their atoms, creating a mix of free-floating positively and negatively charged particles. This state of matter is the most abundant in the universe, and fusion reactions take place within it.

Proving multi-scale coupling has been a long-standing challenge in plasma physics. But in a study in Nature, a research team led by Dr. Jong Yoon Park from Seoul National University and Dr. Young Dae Yoon from the Asia Pacific Center for Theoretical Â鶹ÒùÔºics (APCTP) proved how microscopic phenomena induce macroscopic changes that affect the entire plasma system.

The researchers used the Versatile Experiment Spherical Torus (VEST) at Seoul National University to conduct their experiments. They launched two separate electron beams along magnetic lines in a 3D helical configuration, forming two flux ropes to induce micro magnetic turbulence.

The results showed that this micro-turbulence led to a process called magnetic reconnection, where magnetic field lines were reconfigured, which changed the plasma's structure.

"Our results directly explain how non-MHD [magnetohydrodynamics]kinetic processes progress through multiple scales to induce global MHD changes," wrote the researchers in their paper.

The team also checked and confirmed their findings by running particle simulations on a supercomputer at the Korean Institute of Fusion Energy.

This is a significant breakthrough because it is the first time that scientists have demonstrated in a lab that changes at the particle level can affect the plasma's overall structure.

Implications for space and energy research

The research findings have wide-ranging implications in several fields. The results may help improve our understanding of space weather, as magnetic reconnection drives explosive phenomena such as solar flares and geomagnetic storms. These can damage satellites and power grids here on Earth, and understanding more about these events can help scientists better model and predict them.

Additionally, the study could help in the development of stable nuclear fusion technologies to bring us one step closer to making it a viable power source for clean energy.