IIT Kanpur Revisits Pasma Relaxation Problem In Outer Space

A team of researchers from the Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur has proposed a universal mechanism for turbulent relaxation, which can be applied to a wide range of fluids, including plasmas and complex fluids. This principle, called the principle of vanishing nonlinear transfer (PVNLT), explains how a turbulent system attains a steady, stable state of relaxation when the driving force is switched off. The study 'Universal turbulent relaxation of fluids and plasmas by the principle of vanishing nonlinear transfers' has been published in Physical Review E (Letters) journal. The team comprises Prof Supratik Banerjee and researchers Arijit Halder, and Nandita Pan, from the Department of Physics, IIT Kanpur.

This research has implications for our understanding of cosmological plasmas. Cosmological plasmas are plasmas that exist in outer space, such as in stellar envelopes, gaseous nebulae and interstellar space. Plasmas are a state of matter that consists of charged particles, such as ions and electrons that interact with electromagnetic fields. These plasmas are often dilute, meaning they are not very dense, but they are still important because they play a crucial role in shaping the universe.

The research has the potential to open up new avenues of study and discovery in both laboratory and astrophysical plasmas.