From the Director - Plasma Science and Fusion Center - MIT

Plasma Technology
Background
The objectives of the Plasma Technology
Division are to develop new spin-off
applications from plasma science in areas
which include clean, high-efficiency
vehicles, homeland-security-relevant
monitoring devices and nuclear waste
treatment.
Dan Cohn, Head, Plasma Technology Division.
The objectives of the Plasma Technology
Division, led by Drs. Daniel Cohn and
Paul Woskov, are to develop new spin-off
applications from plasma science and related
technologies in areas that include clean, high
efficiency vehicles, homeland-security-relevant
monitoring devices and nuclear waste treatment.
The Division also seeks to develop new
environmental sensors.
In previous years the Division has received six
R&D 100 Awards for environmental and process
monitoring devices, and a Discover Award
for transportation technology. It has adapted
and applied plasma technology expertise to
a variety of environmental and energy applications,
such as clean and efficient fuel technologies,
and diagnostics for environmental
monitoring, nuclear waste processing and
national security work. The plasmas used for
these applications are at or near atmospheric
pressure, and range from approximately
room temperature to 10,000°C. Plasmas in
the high temperature end of this range have
been used to investigate the treatment of solid
wastes, monitor hazardous metals pollution,
and chemically change hydrocarbon fuels to
make them burn more cleanly. Room temperature
‘cold’ plasmas have been used to treat,
selectively and efficiently, dilute concentrations
of hazardous substances in air streams.
The R&D 100 Awards and Discover Award
for Technological Innovation were given to
the Division for work in the following areas:
• A microwave plasma continuous
emissions monitor for hazardous
metals monitors the gas emitted by
plasma furnaces, incinerators and
32