Study on Atomic Processes in Plasmas

In a plasma, matter disassembles to be atoms, and atoms collide with each other and become ions stripped of their electrons. The energy gained from the collision is emitted as light, and various other processes occur. We study the collision and emission processes of these atoms by theoretical calculations and by observing the light from the atoms to investigate the state of the plasma. We also collect atomic data such as collision cross-sections that describe collision processes and compile them in the database that can be searched and graphed and made available on the internet.

Such atomic collision and emission processes are common not only in fusion plasmas but also in various other phenomena such as solar coronas, supernova remnants, high-temperature gas in galaxy clusters, and magnetospheric plasmas on Earth. It is a research field with broad applications, from atomic physics to plasma physics, astrophysics, geophysics, and many others, and we can conduct a variety of collaborative research projects.

While raising two children (especially until my oldest was 9 years old, my husband was working alone in Tokyo and I had to manage everything by myself), balancing housework/childcare and research has been a challenge in its own way, but I have been able to do it while using daycare, childcare, and family support services. I think it is good to be able to devote myself to research at work and switch my mind away from housework and childcare.