Modern plasma science deals with the challenging problems associated with nonlinear, many-body phenomena in systems far from equilibrium . Progress in plasma physics depends essentially on the close interplay between theory and experiment. Basic experiments are of central importance in the advancement of plasma science. They must be designed to isolate a particular phenomenon and to explore a broad range of plasma parameters. Theoretical and computational plasma physics complement the experimental observation.
Quiescent plasmas are still widely used for basic plasma research in the laboratory.
Quiescent plasmas are cold and weakly ionized. Multipolar cusp confinement by permanent magnets reduces wall losses and increases the density of these glow discharge plasmas. In 1989 this machine replaced the smaller double plasma device which was the first experimental facility of the Laboratory back in 1979. The glow results from excitation of the atoms by the plasma electrons. Permanent magnets surround the internal wall of the vacuum chamber, producing a multipolar cusp confining magnetic field.