Pablo J. Bilbao

As a final year PhD student in plasma physics at IST Lisbon's GoLP group under Prof. L. O. Silva, my research explores the exciting frontier where conventional plasma physics meets exotic physics, such as QED. I use theoretical and numerical tools, mostly PIC simulations (which you can see here), to investigate kinetic plasma instabilities, particularly in the extreme environments surrounding astrophysical compact objects. Intrigued by how these plasmas generate powerful, coherent radiation. Currently, I'm investigating how radiation reaction triggers coherent electron cyclotron maser radiation (potentially linked to Fast Radio Bursts) and I was part of the first-ever lab study simulating a pair plasma blazar jet interacting with the interstellar medium. I'm passionate about bridging the gap between theory and experiment. Part of my current work aims to design innovative lab experiments that recreate these extreme conditions, allowing us to validate our theoretical models. I'm eager to discuss my research so just send me an email¹!