Plasma plume

The image at left might bring to mind a Star Trek transporter, but it actually shows a Hall thruster, a plasma-based propulsion system for both near-Earth and deep-space travel. It was produced by Jerry Ross, a postdoctoral intern at the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory, who was awarded the top prize in the University’s fourth annual Art of Science competition. The contest’s theme was “energy,” and students, faculty, staff, and alumni submitted more than 115 images that were created during scientific research. An exhibition of 45 images can be viewed weekdays for a year in the Friend Center atrium gallery.