- Details
Change and further development: The transition of the Research Department “Plasmas with Complex Interactions” to the Plasma Science Hub
In 2009, the Research Department Plasmas with Complex Interactions (RDPCI) was established with a clear mission: to intensify the networking of plasma related research groups on RUB campus. Over the past decade, RDPCI has been at the forefront of plasma research, making significant contributions to both fundamental science and practical applications.
As we approach the end of 2025, we mark the close of this esteemed research department. However, this is not an end, but a transformation. The knowledge, expertise, and innovation that have been built up within the RDPCI will live on and evolve into a new initiative: the Plasma Science Hub.
The Plasma Science Hub: A New Era
The Plasma Science Hub is designed to build upon the strong foundation laid by RDPCI. It will serve as a dynamic platform for interdisciplinary collaboration, fostering advancements in plasma science and technology. The Hub will focus on:
- Cutting-edge Research: Continuing to push the boundaries of plasma physics, with a particular emphasis on complex interactions and novel applications.
- Interdisciplinary Collaboration: Bringing together experts from diverse fields to tackle complex challenges and explore new opportunities.
- Innovation and Impact: Translating research findings into real-world solutions, benefiting industry, society, and the environment.
- Education and Outreach: Inspiring and training the next generation of plasma scientists, and engaging with the public to share the excitement and importance of plasma research.
A Heartfelt Thank You
We would like to express our deepest gratitude to everyone who has been part of the RDPCI journey. To our dedicated researchers, students, and staff, your hard work, creativity, and passion have made this department a beacon of excellence in plasma science. To our collaborators and partners, your support and cooperation have been invaluable. To our funders, your commitment to advancing plasma research has enabled us to achieve so much.
Looking Ahead
While we bid farewell to RDPCI, we eagerly anticipate the future of the Plasma Science Hub. We invite you to join us on this exciting new chapter, as we continue to explore, innovate, and make a difference in the world of plasma science.
- Details
Lab visit in Brazil
From Bochum to Brazil! Sarah Thiel set off on her journey and spent an exciting exchange semester at the Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCar) in Brazil. Sarah is studying for a master's degree in biology at the RUB and is conducting research on enzyme immobilization in a project run by SFB1316. In Brazil, she continued working on her research project and learned new methods. But outside of research, Sarah also learned what it's like to live alone in a completely foreign country – with a new language, new people, and a completely different culture. In addition to new friendships, she brings back great impressions of everyday life in Brazil and unique experiences.
The stay took place as part of the Research School's Visiting International Professor Program, which is made possible by a cooperation between RUB and UFSCar. The research stay was funded by SFB1316.
- Details
Workshop
Announcement for the 4th Workshop on FAIR Data in Plasma Science
We are happy to announce the 4th Workshop on FAIR Data in Plasma Science (FDPS-IV), which will take place online and in-person on
12-13 May, 2025 at the Leibniz Institute for Plasma Science and Technology (INP) in Greifswald, Germany.
This workshop is intended to provide an overview of successful solutions for collaborative research data management with the goal to make data findable, accessible, interoperable and reusable (FAIR). It is a continuation of annual events on research data management in the low-temperature plasma (LTP) community in the past years. Open for everyone, the FDPS-IV workshop provides insights into best practice in day-to-day research work as well as infrastructure tools for handling of research data. To even broaden the discussion on future applications, a poster session will be held in-person.
Call for poster contributions
Researchers, data managers, and practitioners are invited to contribute to the discussion with a poster on their solutions on research data management. Submissions that highlight real-world experiences, best practices, and insights related to the integration of FAIR principles into research workflows are encouraged.
Registration
The workshop will be held as a hybrid meeting and participation is free of charge. Please save the date and register by following the registration link on the workshop website: https://www.plasma-mds.org/ws-fair-data-plasma-science-4.html.
Poster contributions must be submitted during the registration process. Please note that the attendance in person at INP and the number of poster spaces is limited, so early registration is encouraged to secure your spot (max. DIN A0, portrait format).
The registration will be closed on 4th May, 2025.
Contact
The workshop organization is part of the activities of the working group Experimental Plasma Physics at the Kiel University (CAU), the INF project of the CRC 1316 at the Ruhr-University Bochum (RUB) and of the department Plasma Modelling and Data Science at Leibniz Institute for Plasma Science and Technology (INP).
Dr. Markus Becker
Leibniz Institute for Plasma Science and Technology (INP)
Felix-Hausdorff-Str. 2
17489 Greifswald
Germany
E-mail:
- Details
PUBLIC RELATIONS
The student's project week during the fall vacations
The project week at the Ruhr University Bochum took place again this autumn break. Students could choose from three workshops. In the workshop 'From Plasma to Gold Layer', they learned exciting facts about the properties and diverse applications of plasmas. The students used the sputter coater to create thin layers of gold and examined the coatings. They investigated the best way to deposit the layers and presented their research in a poster session. The project week also provided an opportunity to learn about the working environment of scientists and current research projects and to get a taste of university life.
- Details
Study Orientation Day
Luminous plasmas were ignited at MINTsight.BOchum
On 18th February the MINTsight.BOchum, a study orientation day took place. High school students attended a lecture, were guided through laboratories, and could participate in exciting workshops. In our plasma workshop, students gained hands-on experience with these fascinating gases and gained insight into studying electrical engineering and physics, as well as plasma research at the Ruhr University Bochum.
- Details
Workshop
Unconcious Bias
On Tuesday, March 4, 2025, members of the SFB 1316 participated in a workshop on the topic of Unconscious Bias led by Dr. Juliane Handschuh. The workshop's objective was to understand the impact of prejudices in scientific research and general work environments and learn to recognize unconscious biases in oneself and in the workplace. After Dr. Handschuh gave an introductory talk on the topic, the group was divided into groups of Early Career Researchers (ECRs) and Principal Investigators (PIs) to encourage an open exchange. In preparation for the workshop, participants had been encouraged to anonymously submit personal incidents where they experienced a bias. The group exercises were used as case studies and foundation for discussion. Together, strategies to recognize and adequately approach unconscious biases were developed as a directly affected person and as a bystander. At the end of the workshop, both groups joined again for a final discussion. The workshop provided valuable insights into the complex topic of unconscious biases and has provided the members of the SFB with practical tools to foster a more inclusive research environment.
- Details
Tim Dirks wins Uwe Kappel Doctoral Prize
Congratulations to Tim Dirks, who has been awarded the Uwe Kappel doctoral prize.
His PhD thesis entitled “Plasma-driven biocatalysis and the investigation of plasma-protein interactions“, addresses three challenges in plasma-driven biocatalysis: the inactivation of enzymes by reactive plasma species, the limited production rate of H2O2, and the limited availability of suitable biocatalysts. His outstanding work on a successful strategy to protect enzymes by immobilising and binding them to beads has significantly increased the efficiency of plasma-driven biocatalysis.
The Uwe Kappel doctoral prize was awarded for the first time in November 2024. The prize was established by the Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology in cooperation with the Society of Friends of the Ruhr University to support young researchers and to honour their outstanding achievements during their doctoral studies.
- Details
Laboratory stay in the USA
As part of his PhD, PhD student David Steuer (project A6) is spending nine weeks at the Sandia Plasma Research Facility (PRF) in Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA. Researchers can apply at PRF to submit project ideas. After a successful review process, there is then the option of using one of the excellently equipped laboratories or handing over the experiment to the cooperation partner.
The PRF also offers simulation capacities. In David's project, atomic oxygen densities are to be measured within a microcavity plasma array. A state-of-the-art picosecond laser system from the PRF can be used for this purpose.
The stay was funded by the Research School of the Ruhr-Universität Bochum (PRINT programme) and the CRC 1316.
- Details
Workshop
Understanding the theory of particles in plasmas
On Monday, January 22nd, scientists meet at RUB for the yearly meeting "Plasma and Particle Theory Day" to discuss the theory of particles in plasmas. Understanding the collective behavior of ionized particles is in the focus of research. A particular challenge is to understand how physical collisions of particles and the interactions between ions and electromagnetic fields are included in the various equations to describe the systems. In astrophysics, often these equations are dominated by the interaction of particles with electromagnetic waves. This is the research focus of the Collaborative Research Center SFB1491, "Cosmic Interacting Matters - From Source to Signal", centered at RUB. The research department of Plasmas with Complex Interactions also hosts SFB1316, "Transient Atmospheric Plasmas: From Plasmas to Liquids to Solids". Here, non equilibrium processes in atmopsheric plasmas for species conversion are the topic of research. Compared to astrophysical plasmas, these atmopsheric plasmas are very dense and physical collisions dominate the equations. It is the goal of the Plasma and Particle Theory day to move toward exploring the region in which both terms play a significant role. This is for instance the case in molecular clouds in the Milky way, in which the degree of ionization is as low as ~30% and naturally, collisions become important in the description. Another example is the physics of lightning that can be tested in the plasma lab and for which a briding theory is needed to understand the physics of atmospheric lightning. Once the particle interactions become inelastic, i.e at high energies or at extreme densities like they exist in neutron stars, the classical description needs to be replaced by the quantum mechanical one. Scientists therefore discuss the different methods, how synergies can be build and what the next steps are to build a consistent framework to combine classical and quantum-mechanical interactions.
Figure: Lukas Merten, TP4, RUB
- Details
Nuclear Fusion
Navigating New Frontiers in Fusion: ITER's Material Evolution
Boronization: A Three-Decade Journey Professor Jörg Winter's pioneering technique, "boronization," takes center stage as a key player in this evolution. Developed over three decades, this plasma-chemical process involves coating surfaces with a thin boron layer. Professor Winter's recent insights shared at ITER shed light on the principles and challenges of this technique, adding depth to the ongoing fusion discourse.
Discover more about this Fusion Evolution: Link to the full article
- Details
Small spheres save enzymes for biocatalysis
Plasmas can supply the co-substrate for the biocatalysis of valuable substances, but pity the enzymes. If the latter are attached to small spheres, they work protected and up to 44 times longer.
Some enzymes, such as the one from fungi studied here, are able to produce valuable substances such as the fragrance (R)-1-phenylethanol. To do this, they convert a less expensive substrate using a cosubstrate. A research team from the Department of Biology at Ruhr-Universität Bochum came up with the idea of supplying them with this cosubstrate via a plasma - a crazy idea, as plasmas generally have a destructive effect on biomolecules. However, using several tricks, the researchers led by Prof. Dr. Julia Bandow and Dr. Tim Dirks succeeded. They have now refined one of these tricks and thus improved the process: they attach the enzymes to small balls to hold them to the bottom of the reactor and like this protect them from the harmful influence of the plasma. By choosing the most suitable type of ball, they were able to increase the stability of the enzyme 44-fold. They report in the Journal of the Royal Society Interface from October 25, 2023.
Model enzyme from an edible mushroom
"In plasma-driven biocatalysis, we want to operate enzymes that use hydrogen peroxide to convert a substrate into a more valuable product using technical plasmas," explains Julia Bandow, Head of the Chair of Applied Microbiology. The plasmas - energetically charged gases - produce hydrogen peroxide as well as a variety of reactive species.
The researchers use the non-specific peroxigenase (AaeUPO) from the edible fungus Agrocybe aegerita as a model enzyme. In initial studies, they were able to show that although plasma-driven biocatalysis works with it, there are also key limitations. "The decisive factor was that the enzymes react sensitively to the plasma treatment and are therefore inactivated within a short period of time," explains Tim Dirks, first author of the current study. "To prevent this, we use the method of enzyme immobilization, i.e. attaching the enzymes to so-called beads: small spheres with a porous surface."
Spheres keep the enzymes at the bottom
Due to gravity, these spheres lie on the bottom of the sample and provide a protective zone between the plasma phase at the top and the enzymes. The research team observed early on that the choice of different immobilization methods also led to different survival rates of enzymes. The aim of the current study was therefore to investigate the effect of different immobilization methods on the plasma stability of enzymes using a larger selection of enzymes.
Five different enzymes were selected, two of which also convert hydrogen peroxide and three of which do not require hydrogen peroxide for their activity. The researchers tested nine different types of beads, some of which had a resin surface and others a silica surface with or without a polymer coating. After immobilization, the enzymes were treated with plasma for up to five minutes. The researchers then compared their residual activity with untreated controls.
The path to new applications
The beads with resin surfaces showed the best results for all five enzymes. "The amino and epoxy-butyl beads performed best," like these," says Tim Dirks. In both cases, the enzymes form a strong, covalent bond with the carrier material, which cannot be dissolved. "This type of immobilization appears to limit the mobility of the enzymes, which makes them less susceptible to plasma-induced inactivation," concludes Tim Dirks. The team extended the plasma treatment times for the most promising candidates to up to one hour and, like this, was able to increase the stability of the enzymes under plasma treatment by up to a factor of 44 through immobilization. "The findings of this study thus pave the way for new applications that aim to combine enzymes with technical plasmas in the future," the researchers like this.
adapted from Maike Drießen, RUB