The fourth state of matter in the universe is called “plasma.” It can be created in the laboratory by breaking down gases, the third state of matter, using extreme voltage. A lightning strike is plasma created by nature. Laboratory-generated plasmas, under ordinary conditions, are hard to control. However, thanks to the work of electrical engineering graduate student Olutosin Fawole, of professor Masood Tabib-Azar’s group, a new device forces plasma, when placed around a magnet, to rotate around a center point. This device has enormous potential impact for science since a magnetic-field sensor can detect subtle electric currents. The ingenuity of this work, Olutosin said, is its feature as “a new device that enables plasma to be used as a magnetic field sensor.” If this device is made a billion times more sensitive, it could enable detection of electricity in human brains. This device is the first of its kind and is a major step in both rearing plasma for experiments and discovering ways to track the elusive signals of the human brain.
- ‘Student Innovation @ the U’ 2023 Mar 28, 2024
- Lassonde Information Session & Tour (In-Person or Virtual) Friday, March 29, 2024, 12:30 - 1:30pm
- Entrepreneur Club: Student Startup Forum Friday, March 29, 2024, 1 - 2pm
- Make It: Customized Metal Card Saturday, March 30, 2024, 1 - 2pm