Engineering applications of plasma science

Plasma science holds a number of applications in a wide range of engineering fields. In addition to their important role in controlled fusion and in several processes, such as etching, deposition/coating, glow discharge cleaning, and ion implantation, plasmas are key materials in numerous devices, including microwave tubes, particle accelerators, fluorescent lamps, and display panels. High energy plasma particles can also be used to catalyze chemical reactions for pollution and hazardous waste processing and pump lasers. These and other plasma applications make the fundamental understanding of plasmas increasingly important, and the role of plasma science within engineering will continue to grow.