Program Overview

Graduate Certificate in Plasma Science and Engineering

The Graduate Certificate in Plasma Science and Engineering is administered by the Michigan Institute for Plasma Science and Engineering (MIPSE). This certificate program provides students with the opportunity to broaden and deepen their experience in plasma science and engineering research.

Program Components

• Coursework in the fundamentals and applications of Plasma Science and Engineering
• Participation in the MIPSE Graduate Research Symposium
• Research on a topic related to Plasma Science and Engineering
• Opportunity to use internship experiences for laboratory credit

Plasma Courses

Aerospace Engineering

• AEROSP 536: Electric Propulsion
  • Advisory Prerequisite: AEROSP 335, senior standing
  • Enforced Prerequisite: None
  • Introduction to electric propulsion with an overview of electricity and magnetism, atomic physics, non-equilibrium flows, and electrothermal, electromagnetic, and electrostatic electric propulsion systems

Climate and Space Sciences and Engineering

• SPACE 370 (EARTH 370): Solar Terrestrial Relations
  • Advisory Prerequisite: MATH 216 and PHYSICS 240
  • Enforced Prerequisite: None
  • Introduction to solar terrestrial relations with an overview of solar radiation and its variability on all time-scales
• SPACE 477: Space Weather Modeling
  • Advisory Prerequisite: None
  • Enforced Prerequisite: SPACE 370, Minimum grade requirement of C for enforced prerequisites
  • Introduction to a variety of models of the space environment
• SPACE 495 (ENSCEN 495): Upper Atmosphere and Ionosphere
  • Prerequisite: None
  • Basic physical and chemical processes important in controlling the upper/middle atmosphere and ionosphere
• SPACE 545 (NERS 672): High Energy Density Physics
  • Advisory Prerequisite: MATH 450, PHYSICS 405, and PHYSICS 406
  • Enforced Prerequisite: None
  • Fundamental tools and discoveries of high-energy density physics
• SPACE 571: Space Plasma Measurement Techniques
  • Advisory Prerequisite: SPACE 310 or SPACE 370
  • Identify, define, and practice the way to get from a science question to a set of measurements necessary to answer the question
• CLIMATE 574 (AEROSP 574): Introduction to Space Physics
  • Advisory and Enforced Prerequisite: None
  • Graduate-level introduction to physical and aeronomical processes in the space environment
• SPACE 595 (ECE 518): Magnetosphere and Solar Wind
  • Advisory Prerequisite: Graduate standing
  • Enforced Prerequisite: None
  • General principles of magnetohydrodynamics
• SPACE 597 (AEROSP 597): Fundamentals of Space Plasma Physics
  • Prerequisite: Senior-level statistical physics course
  • Basic plasma concepts, Boltzmann equation, higher-order moments equations, MHD equations
• SPACE 598: The Sun and the Heliosphere
  • Advisory Prerequisite: SPACE 574 and PHYSICS 505 or equivalent
  • Enforced Prerequisite: None
  • Complete description of the physical processes that govern the behavior of the Sun and the heliosphere

Electrical Engineering and Computer Science

• EECS 423: Micro/Nano Device Fabrication and Characterization
  • Prerequisite: Senior undergraduate or graduate standing
  • Basic principles and hands-on experience with semiconductor micro
    ano-fabrication technologies
• EECS 425: Integrated Microsystems Laboratory
  • Prerequisite: EECS 311 or EECS 312 or EECS 414 or graduate standing
  • Development of a complete integrated microsystem
• ECE 510 (NERS 675): Plasma Chemistry and Plasma Surface Interactions
  • Prerequisite: ECE 517, permission of instructor, or graduate standing
  • Focuses on the plasma chemistry and plasma-surface interactions occurring in low-temperature plasmas
• ECE 517 (NERS 578): Low Temperature Plasmas
  • Advisory Prerequisite: (PHYSICS 240 or PHYSICS 260) and (MATH 216 or MATH 286 or MATH 296)
  • Enforced Prerequisite: None
  • Addresses the science and technology of low-temperature, partially ionized, non-equilibrium plasmas
• ECE 528: Principles of Microelectronics Process Technology
  • Prerequisite: EECS 421 and EECS 423
  • Theoretical analysis of the chemistry and physics of process technologies used in micro-electronics fabrication

Mechanical Engineering

• ME 586: Laser Materials Processing
  • Prerequisites: senior or graduate standing
  • Application of lasers in materials processing and manufacturing

Nuclear Engineering and Radiological Sciences

• NERS 425: Application of Radiation
  • Prerequisite: NERS 312
  • Applications of radiation interaction with matter
• NERS 471: Introduction to Plasmas and Fusion
  • Prerequisite: preceded or accompanied by Physics 240 or 260
  • Single particle orbits in electric and magnetic fields, moments of Boltzmann equation and introduction to fluid theory
• NERS 472: Fusion Reactor Technology
  • Prerequisite: NERS 471
  • Study of technological topics relevant to the engineering feasibility of fusion reactors as power sources
• NERS 571: Intermediate Plasma Physics I
  • Prerequisite: NERS 471 or Physics 405
  • Single particle motion, collision and transport
• NERS 572 (APPPHY 672): Intermediate Plasma Physics II
  • Prerequisite: NERS 571
  • Waves in non-uniform plasmas, magnetic shear
• NERS 573: Plasma Engineering
  • Prerequisite: NERS 471 or graduate standing
  • Theory and application of plasma concepts relevant to plasma engineering problems
• NERS 574: Introduction to Computational Plasma Physics
  • Prerequisite: NERS 471 or 571, Minimum grade of a B required for enforced prerequisites
  • Introduction to plasma simulation techniques
• NERS 575 (ECE 519): Plasma Generation and Diagnostics Laboratory
  • Prerequisite: preceded or accompanied by a course covering electromagnetism
  • Laboratory techniques for plasma ionization and diagnosis
• NERS 576: Charged Particle Accelerators and Beams
  • Prerequisite: Physics 240 or 260; or EECS 230
  • Principles of electrostatic and electrodynamic charged particle accelerators
• NERS 577: Plasma Spectroscopy
  • Prerequisite: introductory courses in plasma and quantum mechanics
  • Basic theory of atomic and molecular spectroscopy and its application to plasma diagnostics
• NERS 578 (ECE 517): Physical Processes in Plasmas
  • Advisory Prerequisite: (PHYSICS 240 or PHYSICS 260) and (MATH 216 or MATH 286 or MATH 296)
  • Enforced Prerequisite: None
  • Addresses the science and technology of low-temperature, partially ionized, non-equilibrium plasmas
• NERS 671: Theory of Plasma Confinement in Fusion Systems
  • Prerequisite: NERS 572 advised
  • Study of the equilibrium, stability, and transport of plasma in controlled fusion devices
• NERS 672 (SPACE 545): High Energy Density Physics
  • Prerequisite: None, Advisory Prerequisite: MATH 450, PHYSICS 405 & PHYSICS 406
  • Fundamental tools and discoveries of high-energy density physics
• NERS 673: Electrons and Coherent Radiation
  • Prerequisite: NERS 471 or Physics 405
  • Collective interactions between electrons and surrounding structure studied
• NERS 674 (APPPHY 674): High Intensity Laser-Plasma Interactions
  • Prerequisite: NERS 471, NERS 571 or permission of instructor
  • Coupling of intense electromagnetic radiation to electrons and collective modes in time-dependent and equilibrium plasmas

Supporting Courses

Aerospace Engineering

• AEROSP 523 (MECHENG 523): Computational Fluid Dynamics I
  • Advisory Prerequisite: AEROSP 325 or preceded or accompanied by MECHENG 520
  • Enforced Prerequisite: None
  • Physical and mathematical foundations of computational fluid mechanics
• AEROSP 532: Molecular Gas Dynamics
  • Advisory Prerequisite: Permission of instructor
  • Enforced Prerequisite: None
  • Analysis of basic gas properties at the molecular level
• AEROSP 533 (ENSCEN 533): Combustion Processes
  • Advisory Prerequisite: AEROSP 225
  • Enforced Prerequisite: None
  • Fundamentals of combustion systems and fire and explosion phenomena

Climate and Space Sciences and Engineering

• SPACE 101: Rocket Science
  • Advisory and Enforced Prerequisite: None
  • Introduction to the science of space and space exploration
• CLIMATE 479 (ENSCEN 479): Atmospheric Chemistry
  • Advisory Prerequisite: CHEM 130, MATH 216
  • Enforced Prerequisite: None
  • Thermochemistry, photochemistry, and chemical kinetics of the atmosphere
• CLIMATE 565 (SPACE 565): Planetary Science
  • Advisory Prerequisite: Graduate standing
  • Enforced Prerequisite: None
  • Solar system formation, giant planets, and origin of their atmospheres
• CLIMATE 567 (CHEM 567): Chemical Kinetics
  • Advisory Prerequisite: CHEM 461 or CLIMATE 479 or permission of instructor
  • Enforced Prerequisite: None
  • General course in chemical kinetics

Astronomy

• ASTRO 201: Introduction to Astrophysics
  • Advisory Prerequisites: Calculus and Physics at the high school or university level
  • Discover the extraordinary nature of astronomy
• ASTRO 402: Stellar Astrophysics
  • Enforced Prerequisites: MATH 215, 255 or 285, and prior or concurrent enrollment in PHYSICS 340 or PHYSICS 360, or graduate standing
  • Advisory Prerequisites: MATH 216, 256 or 286 and ASTRO 201
  • Examination of the appearance, structure, and evolution of stars

Electrical Engineering and Computer Science

• EECS 430 (SPACE 431) (CLIMATE 431): Wireless Link Design
  • Prerequisite: EECS 330 (C or better) or graduate standing
  • Fundamentals of electromagnetic radiation and propagation
• ECE 503: Introduction to Numerical Electromagnetics
  • Prerequisite: EECS 330
  • Introduction to numerical methods in electromagnetics
• ECE 530 (APPPHYS 530): Electromagnetic Theory I
  • Prerequisite: EECS 330 or Physics 438
  • Maxwell's equations, constitutive relations, and boundary conditions
• ECE 539 (APPPHYS 551) (PHYSICS 651): Lasers
  • Prerequisite: ECE 537 and ECE 538 and Graduate Standing
  • Complete study of laser operation
• CSE 587: Parallel Computing
  • Prerequisite: EECS 281 and graduate standing
  • Development of programs for parallel computers

Mathematics

• MATH 571: Numerical Linear Algebra
  • Prerequisite: MATH 214, 217, 417, 419, or 420; and one of MATH 450, 451, or 454
  • Numerical linear algebra is at the core of much of scientific computing
• MATH 572: Numerical Methods for Differential Equations
  • Prerequisite: MATH 214, 217, 417, 419, or 420; and one of MATH 450, 451, or 454
  • Introduction to numerical methods for differential equations

Mechanical Engineering

• ME 523: Computational Fluid Dynamics I
  • Prerequisite: AEROSP 325 or preceded or accompanied by MECHENG 520
  • Physical and mathematical foundations of computational fluid mechanics

Nuclear Engineering and Radiological Sciences

• NERS 512: Interaction of Radiation and Matter
  • Prerequisite: NERS 511
  • Classical and quantum-mechanical analysis of the processes by which radiation interacts with matter
• NERS 570 (ENGR 570): Methods and Practice of Scientific Computing
  • Advisory Prerequisite: MATH 371 or MATH 471
  • Enforced Prerequisite: ENGR 101 or 151 or EECS 183 AND MATH 216 or 256 or 286; or Graduate Status
  • Designed for graduate students developing the methods and using the tools of scientific computing

Physics

• PHY 405: Intermediate Electricity and Magnetism
  • Advisory pre-requisite: PHYSICS 340 or 360 and 351 and one of MATH 216, 256, 286, or 316
  • Rigorous introduction to electricity and magnetism
• PHY 406: Statistical and Thermal Physics
  • Advisory pre-requisite: PHYSICS 340 or PHYSICS 360 and PHYSICS 351
  • Introduction to thermal processes including the classical laws of thermodynamics and their statistical foundations
• PHY 505: Electricity and Magnetism I
  • Advisory pre-requisite: Graduate Standing
  • Electrostatics, magnetostatics, quasi-static fields, electromagnetic waves
• PHY 506: Electricity and Magnetism II
  • Advisory pre-requisite: PHYSICS 505 or equivalent
  • Scattering and diffraction, wave guides, radiation theory, covariant formulation of electrodynamics
• PHY 510: Statistical Physics
  • Advisory pre-requisite: PHYSICS 505 or equivalent
  • Review of thermodynamics, statistical basis of the second law of thermodynamics