From plasma self-organization to in situ utilization of extraterrestrialmolecules for propulsion: Enabling plasma science with advanced diagnostics

Low temperature plasma science discovery is enabled by advanced diagnostics and high-performance computing. The Princeton PCRF provides such capabilities for single investigators enabling broader insight and understanding in a wide array of plasma science problems. Three science projects from UM’s Plasma Science and Technology Laboratory have been hosted by the PCRF. These varied topics include: 1) plasma-based depolymerization of plastics, featuring advanced FTIR and OES analysis, 2) modeling the plasma extraction sheath of a plasma cathode operating on molecular gases using EDIPIC, and 3) the study of the role of negative ions in self organizing plasmas. These studies provide insight into long standing science problems and inform engineering solutions to environmental challenges here on Earth and resource utilization in space. Here we report on results from these studies featuring PCRF diagnostic and modeling tools and put into context the invaluable insight that they have revealed.