Plasma Science Hub

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First (V)UV-double-monochromator calibration measurements at AG Benedikt in Kiel

To achieve a relative intensity calibration of a (V)UV-monochromator, the use of the double monochromator method is common. Two monochromators work in tandem, and the difference in the spectrum from a stable light source of the first monochromator through the second monochromator is utilized to obtain a relative intensity calibration. From July 8th until July 12th, Beatrix Biskup, from project B2 of the SFB-TR 87, stayed at the university in Kiel to achieve the monochromator calibration.
The monochromator from Bochum was transported beforehand to the AG Benedikt at CAU (Christian-Albrechts-University) in Kiel. The technical staff made all the preparations necessary for the monochromators from Bochum and Kiel to work together in tandem. Together with Dr. Judith Golda and Prof. Dr. Jan Benedikt in Kiel, Beatrix Biskup did the first test measurements, which could be accomplished. Further cooperation with the research group will be executed in future.

Plasma barbeque 2019

On Wednesday July 3rd, the annual Plasma barbeque took place at Ruhr-Universität Bochum. Students from the physics faculty as well as from the electrical engineering could meet PhD students from both faculties and inform themselves about plasma studies in a pleasant atmosphere.

ISPC 24 in Naples

Between June 11th and 14th, the 24th International Symposium on Plasma Chemistry took place in Naples, Italy. A group of seven peole from the CRC 1316 as well as from the SFB-TR 87 joined the meeting. An honour was given to Achim von Keudell, who had a plenary talk on High power impulse magnetron sputtering – extreme plasmas for extreme materials. Also, Julia Bandow from project B8 of the CRC1316 had an invited talk on Plasma meets biotechnology – coupling plasma and enzymatic reactions. Further, Marc Böke had a talk on Separated effects of plasma species and post- treatment on the properties of barrier layers on polymers and Patrick Preissing presented his work on NO production in the COST Reference Microplasma Jet and a dielectric barrier discharge measured by means of Laser Induced Fluorescence (LIF).

10th International Workshop on Microplasmas in Kyoto

This year, the 10th edition of the International Workshop on Microplasmas took place in Kyoto. The scope of the workshop are the generation/sources of microplasmas, modelling, and applications (material processing, biomedical material treatments, environmental devices etc.). Around 70 participants from all over the world joined the meeting. A group of nine people from Bochum, especially from the CRC 1316 joined the conference. Finally, two oral presentations and six poster presentations were given by them.

An oral presentation was held by Sebastian Dzikowski from project A6 from the CRC 1316 with the title "Initial ignition behavior of a micro cavity plasma array (MCPA)". Moreover, an invited talk was given by Dr. Volker Schulz-von der Gathen from the CRC with the title "Micro cavity plasma array devices: From first ignition to continuous operation".

How bacteria protect themselves from plasma treatment 

Plasmas are applied in the treatment of wounds to combat pathogens that are resistant against antibiotics. But bacteria know how to defend themselves.

Considering the ever-growing percentage of bacteria that are resistant to antibiotics, interest in medical use of plasma is increasing. In collaboration with colleagues from Kiel, researchers at Ruhr-Universität Bochum (RUB) investigated if bacteria may become impervious to plasmas, too. They identified 87 genes of the bacterium Escherichia coli, which potentially protect against effective components of plasma. “These genes provide insights into the antibacterial mechanisms of plasmas,” says Marco Krewing. He is the lead author of two articles that were published in the Journal of the Royal Society Interface this year.

A cocktail of harmful components stresses pathogens

Plasmas are created from gas that is pumped with energy. Today, plasmas are already used against multi-resistant pathogens in clinical applications, for example to treat chronic wounds. “Plasmas provide a complex cocktail of components, many of which act as disinfectants in their own right,” explains Professor Julia Bandow, Head of the RUB research group Applied Microbiology. UV radiation, electric fields, atomic oxygen, superoxide, nitric oxides, ozone, and excited oxygen or nitrogen affect the pathogens simultaneously, generating considerable stress. Typically, the pathogens survive merely several seconds or minutes.

In order to find out if bacteria, may develop resistance against the effects of plasmas, like they do against antibiotics, the researchers analysed the entire genome of the model bacterium Escherichia coli, short E. coli, to identify existing protective mechanisms. “Resistance means that a genetic change causes organisms to be better adapted to certain environmental conditions. Such a trait can be passed on from one generation to the next,” explains Julia Bandow.

Mutants missing single genes

For their study, the researchers made use of so-called knockout strains of E. coli. These are bacteria that are missing one specific gene in their genome, which contains approximately 4,000 genes. The researchers exposed each mutant to the plasma and monitored if the cells kept proliferating following the exposure.

“We demonstrated that 87 of the knockout strains were more sensitive to plasma treatment than the wild type that has a complete genome,” says Marco Krewing. Subsequently, the researchers analysed the genes missing in these 87 strains and determined that most of those genes protected bacteria against the effects of hydrogen peroxide, superoxide, and/or nitric oxide. “This means that these plasma components are particularly effective against bacteria,” elaborates Julia Bandow. However, it also means that genetic changes that result in an increase in the number or activity of the respective gene products are more capable of protecting bacteria from the effects of plasma treatment.

Heat shock protein boosts plasma resistance

The research team, in collaboration with a group headed by Professor Ursula Jakob from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor (USA), demonstrated that this is indeed the case: the heat shock protein Hsp33, encoded by the hslO gene, protects E. coli proteins from aggregation when exposed to oxidative stress. “During plasma treatment, this protein is activated and protects the other E. coliproteins – and consequently the bacterial cell,” Bandow points out. An increased volume of this protein alone results in a slightly increased plasma resistance. Considerably stronger plasma resistance can be expected when the levels of several protective proteins are increased simultaneously.

© Daniel Sadrowski
By Meike Drießen, Translated by Donata Zuber

Poster Prize for Christoph Stewig (A3) at the Conference for Plasma Technology 19 in Cottbus

Christoph Stewig was awarded with one of the three poster prizes at the bi-annual conference on plasma technology in Cottbus. 

Mercator Fellow SFB-TR 87

Prof. Kushner visits research group Awakowicz

Mark Kushner confirmed his visit to the RUB from the 03.-07.06.2019. A workshop will take place on Monday (03.06.2019) with a talk from Mark as well as from AEPT, EP2, EP5, and TET. For organizing the workshop and the talks, we would ask every institute to present TWO talks on their research. Therefore, please send us a title for your talks until the 29.04.2019. 

Prof. Uwe Czarnetzki awarded International Fellow of the Japan Society of Applied Physics

Prof. Uwe Czarnetzki from project A1/A2 of the CRC 1316 was awarded international fellow of the Japan Society of Applied Physics. The award ceremony will be held September 18th, 2019 during the Japan Society of Applied Physics autumn meeting. During the ceremony, the honored fellows are invited to present their scientific contribution. The status of international fellows of the Japan Society of Applied Physics is an honor awarded to scientists who support the progress of the Japan Society of Applied Physics in recognition of their achievements. Congratulations!

Successful Frontiers conference in Bad Honnef

Between May 12th and May 16th, 2019, the 13th Frontiers in Low-Temperature in Plasma Diagnostics and 1st Frontiers in Low-Temperature Plasma Simulations was held in the Physikzentrum in Bad Honnef.

The conference was organized by the Research Department Plasmas with Complex Interactions and chaired by Prof. Czarnetzki from the SFB 1316. In total, 103 participants joined the diagnostics and simulation meeting.

Scientists from both collaborative research centers, SFB TR 87 and SFB 1316, attended the meeting and presented five poster and four oral contributions. Julian Held, PhD student in project A5 of the SFB-TR 87, was awarded the prize for the best oral presentation with his contribution Velocity distribution function of atoms and ionsin HiPIMS by Doppler broadening of optical emission lines during the conference. Congratulations to him!

Teenagers enjoy plasma physics 

During the Easter holidays the Schülerprojektwoche for 14 and 15 year old pupils took place at the Ruhr-University Bochum. The Schülerprojektwoche is an established part of public relations for pupils and is, belong others, financed by both SFBs. 

For one week 60 girls and boys did experiments in four different workshops, namely “astronomy”, “plasma physics”, “energy efficient house building” and “physics in medicine”. 

In the plasma project, which was supervised by PhD and Master students of both SFBs, the pupils deposited thin gold layers on glass substrate using a plasma coater. Additionally, they characterized different samples regarding thickness, optical transmission and conductivity in dependence of the plasma deposition time.

Besides the workshops, the girls and boys experienced university life. They attended a lecture, visited “real” physics laboratories and watched a show at the planetarium in Bochum.  At the end of the 4 days, they created posters and presented their results of the workshops to the other pupils during a poster session. 

The Schülerprojektwoche was successfully finished with a quiz duel about the learned physics between the four workshop groups. Here, the plasma physics group won and was awarded with a cup. 

Lab visit

Dr. habil. Sedina Tsikata visits plasma labs in Bochum

Within the frame of the physics collquium at Ruhr University in Bochum, Dr. habil. Sedina Tsikata from CNRS Orléans, France was invited to present her reserach topic. Her presentation had the title "With plasmas into space - physics of Hall thrusters". The visit was also used to discuss recent research topics with the groups of Prof. A. von Keudell and Prof. U. Czarnetzki.

  1. 2019-03-04 London Sprachkurs
  2. 2019-04-09 JSPS
  3. 2019-04-09 GREMI
  4. 2019-04-04 - International School on Low Temperature Plasma Physics: Basics and Applications 2019

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