Working Group 1: Radiative QED Plasmas

Leader: Marija Vranic

Co-Leader: Indrek Vurm

Research

This group focuses on plasmas where radiation and quantum processes—such as electron-positron pair production—strongly influence plasma dynamics in both astrophysical and laboratory environments.

Key Scientific Questions

• How does radiation and pair production affect the physics of dissipation processes such as shocks, magnetic reconnection, and turbulence?
• What are the observational signatures of radiative QED processes?
• Can laboratory experiments probe these processes and validate underlying models?

Key Objectives / Main Tasks

• Conduct a systematic comparison of numerical methods (e.g. PIC, MHD, Monte Carlo, radiative transfer), establish their domains of validity, and identify current gaps.
• Map the parameter regimes where laboratory experiments can access astrophysically relevant conditions and benchmark simulations.
• Coordinate the use of observational constraints to guide theoretical and numerical development, and use models to inform observational strategies.