Laboratory and near-earth space plasma as a key to the plasma universe

Abstract

Experiments in the laboratory andin situmeasurements in space represent an essential, but often overlooked, key to reliable understanding of our plasma universe. This will be illustrated by discussing several fundamental aspects of matter in the plasma state. They include (1) conduction of electric current, (2) magnetic-field aligned electric fields, (3) acceleration of charged particles to high energy, (4) coupling between magnetic fields and the motion of matter, (5) rapid release of magnetically stored energy, (6) chemical separation, and (7) critical-velocity interaction between plasma and neutral gas.