Abdulraman Baobaid's Summer Research at the Center for Kinetic Plasma Physics

"I am Abdulrahman Baobaid. I am transitioning to my last year of my undergraduate degree in physics at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities (UMN). In my three years at UMN, I have become interested in experimental plasma physics – dubbed the fourth state of matter – and its intersection with atomic physics and its relevance to fusion energy. After I graduate, I will pursue a PhD in physics to build a career in plasma and fusion science.

This summer, I am working as a research assistant at the Center for Kinetic Plasma Physics at West Virginia University. My research project focuses on a relatively new plasma diagnostic technique for magnetic field measurements in plasmas called Quantum Beats Spectroscopy (QBS). My goal is to take this technique to its full potential and use it to measure magnetic perturbations in plasmas. I have picked up many laboratory skills working on this project, such as working with high-power laser systems, vacuum systems, plasma diagnostic techniques, building circuits, instrumentation, 3D modeling and data analysis – all of which would be of benefit as I transition into my PhD.

My research is highly relevant to the plasma physics and fusion energy community due to the important role that magnetic diagnostics play in the field. This  research would provide a tool to study fundamental phenomena that occur in plasmas, such as wave-particle interactions, instabilities and other effects. These effects are widely studied, because they are critical to the understanding of plasma behaviour and development of future fusion technologies. The results of this research will be presented at the upcoming American Physical Society Conference (APS DPP 2026) in Chicago, and will form the basis of my undergraduate thesis."

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