Plasma Physics in Strong Field Regimes

TL;DR

This thesis develops analytical and numerical models to understand plasma phenomena in strong electromagnetic fields, including classical and quantum effects, with applications in astrophysics and laboratory experiments.

Contribution

It introduces new classical and quantum plasma models that elucidate strong-field effects in laser-plasma interactions and astrophysical environments.

Findings

Role of strong magnetic fields in laser-plasma interactions clarified

Quantum electrodynamics effects in plasmas modeled for astrophysics

Potential for laboratory testing of strong-field QED effects

Abstract

In strong electromagnetic fields, new plasma phenomena and applications emerge, whose modeling requires analytical theories and numerical schemes that I will develop in this thesis. Based on my new results of the classical plasma model, the role of strong magnetic fields during laser-plasma interactions can now be understood. Moreover, based my new quantum electrodynamics (QED) models for plasmas, it is now possible to understand strong-field QED effects in astrophysical environments and test them in laboratory settings.