| Astrophysics (Index) | About |
Plasma astrophysics, the study of the effects of plasma in astrophysics, the term generally used regarding galactic astronomy and beyond. A substantial portion of the universe is ionized, i.e., plasma and the particular characteristics of plasma (as compared to a gas, additional significant affects of electromagnetism) play a role in interstellar medium and intergalactic medium, and the early universe (specifically, before the epoch of reionization), as well as some AGN phenomena and interactions with stars, clouds, etc., in which MHD is relevant.
(Note that the science of plasma plays a very large role in solar physics, and though there is a logic to classifying solar physics as a portion of astrophysics, to some degree those two terms are used as if they are distinct sciences.)