Nuclear and Plasma Physics

Nuclear and plasma physics together probe matter under extreme conditions, from the sub-atomic forces that bind protons and neutrons into nuclei, to the collective behaviour of fully ionised gases in which electromagnetic fields dominate. In nuclear physics, advances in high-resolution spectroscopy and heavy-ion collisions have mapped shell structures, collective excitations and the limits of nuclear stability, illuminating processes that power stars and govern nucleosynthesis. Parallel developments in plasma physics address the challenge of confining and heating ionised deuterium–tritium plasmas to temperatures exceeding 100 million °C for fusion energy, while also explaining naturally occurring plasmas—from ionospheric layers to solar and astrophysical environments—via magnetohydrodynamics and kinetic theory. Efforts to contain fusion plasmas focus on toroidal magnetic geometries, managing heat flux exhaust through divertor systems and exploiting vapour-shielding effects at plasma-facing components. Meanwhile, the advent of rare-isotope beams and ultrarelativistic nuclear collisions has bridged nuclear structure and quark–gluon dynamics. Together, these fields underpin applications in energy generation, medical isotopes, materials analysis and our understanding of the cosmos.

Research from Nature Portfolio

Recent studies of near-barrier collisions between medium-mass and heavy nuclei have revealed an unexpectedly rich spectrum of mass and charge partitions formed prior to fusion capture, with dozens of multinucleon transfer channels influencing compound-system formation. This complexity challenges conventional capture models and points to new strategies for synthesising superheavy elements by tuning entrance-channel dynamics.

Systematic surveys of electric quadrupole transition probabilities across the nuclear chart have uncovered previously unrecognised repetition patterns in E2 strengths. By comparing experimental data with interacting-boson-model calculations and random-matrix theory, researchers have identified novel candidates exhibiting “regular” collective behaviour along the arc of regularity, expanding our understanding of ordered motion beyond established shell closures.

Topic trend for the past 5 years

The graph below shows the article count in Nature Index journals for nuclear and plasma physics.

Technical terms

Plasma: A quasi-neutral mixture of free electrons and ions exhibiting collective electromagnetic behaviour.

Magnetic confinement: The use of magnetic fields to trap charged particles and sustain high-temperature plasmas in defined regions.

Lawson criterion: The minimum product of plasma density, temperature and confinement time required for net energy gain in fusion.

Divertor: A plasma-facing component in toroidal devices that channels and mitigates exhaust heat and particles.

Multinucleon transfer: Simultaneous exchange of several protons and neutrons between colliding nuclei before fusion capture.

ρ-parameter: The ratio of the real to imaginary parts of the forward elastic-scattering amplitude in high-energy collisions.

Notable articles in nuclear and plasma physics

1. A study of vorticity formation in high energy nuclear collisions. European Physical Journal C (2015).
2. Onset of Hydrodynamic Mix in High-Velocity, Highly Compressed Inertial Confinement Fusion Implosions. Physical Review Letters (2013).
3. Unexpectedly large charge radii of neutron-rich calcium isotopes. Nature Physics (2016).
4. Magnetized fast isochoric laser heating for efficient creation of ultra-high-energy-density states. Nature Communications (2018).
5. Angular momentum generation in nuclear fission. Nature (2021).
6. Magnetic configuration effects on the Wendelstein 7-X stellarator. Nature Physics (2018).
7. Measurement of the total cross section and ρ-parameter from elastic scattering in pp collisions at s=13 TeV with the ATLAS detector. European Physical Journal C (2023).
8. Colliding heavy nuclei take multiple identities on the path to fusion. Nature Communications (2023).

Position of Nuclear and Plasma Physics in Nature Index by Count

Top 5 leading collaborators in Nuclear and Plasma Physics

Collaborating institutions