Theoretical Plasma Physics

Welcome to the website of our group on “Theoretical Plasma Physics”. We study atmospheric plasmas and astrophysical systems.

In the atmosphere, we study gas discharges, lightning, and associated phenomena. In particular, we study so-called Terrestrial Gamma-Ray Flashes (TGFs) and Gamma-Ray Glows (GRGs)—beams of high-energy X-rays and gamma rays with energies of up to 40 MeV. This makes them the most energetic natural phenomena on Earth, more energetic than radioactive decay chains. We develop and use numerical models that we run on national and international supercomputers to understand these phenomena and their effects. In doing so, we also examine the effects on technology and nature, particularly plasma chemistry, which is relevant to the production of trace gases and prebiotic molecules. In the future, we will also investigate how lightning contributes to the formation of organic materials in exoplanet atmospheres, as well as how lightning interacts with wind power plants—a topic relevant to the green transition within the EU. We are the coordinators of the Horizon Europe Doctoral Network GRAIL (Gamma Radiation for Investigation and Learning).

In the field of astrophysics, we study particle showers and relativistic jets around compact objects (neutron stars, black holes). We use numerical models to understand the properties of these particles in curved spacetime. We use analytical methods to understand spacetime around compact objects in particular and in the universe in general. We use numerical methods to understand how particles move in different spacetimes. In particular, we are currently investigating how gravitational waves between black holes and/or neutron stars contribute to the formation of relativistic jets.