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Paulo Sá

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Paulo Sá

About

I obtained my bachelor’s degree in Physics (“Applied Physics and Electronics”) from the Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade do Porto. I got my PhD in Physics (area of Plasma Physics) from the Instituto Superior Técnico, Lisboa. I am Associate Professor at the Department of Physics Engineering of Faculdade de Engenharia da Universidade do Porto (FEUP), where I began to teach when I finished my bachelor degree. I usually teach general physics (mainly Newtonian mechanics, thermodynamics, optics, electromagnetism) and more recently Plasma Physics for various Programmes/Cycle of Studies, such as such as Degrees in Bioengineering, Civil Engineering, Electrical and Computers Engineering, Physical Engineering and Chemical Engineering. I also teach the curricular unit "Plasma Technology and Applications" of the academic part of the Doctoral Program in Physics Engineering (PRODEF).

Between 2010 and 2012, I was the Director of the Doctoral Program in Engineering Physics (PRODEF) at FEUP. Since 2010 until 2019, I was the Director of the Department of Physics Engineering of FEUP.

My scientific areas of research are the study of the kinetics of electrons, heavy neutrals and positive and/or negative ions in electrical discharges in gases (atomic, molecular and mixtures of both, in particular argon, nitrogen and oxygen) at DC, HF, and microwave discharges. More recently, I am interested in the simulation of plasma thrusters for electric propulsion technologies, in particular electrohydrodynamic (EHD) thrusters and more recently Hall effect thrusters (HET).

Research interests

Electrical Discharges in Gases, Statistical Physics, Electrodynamics.

Selected publications

  1. V.H. Granados, M.J. Pinheiro and P.A. Sá, Single-stage EHD thruster response to several simulation conditions in nitrogen gas, Physics of Plasmas, 093508 (9), 2017.
  2. V.H. Granados, M.J. Pinheiro and P.A. Sá, Study of the design and efficiency of single stage EHD thrusters at the sub-atmospheric pressure of 1.3 kPa, Physics of Plasmas, 123513 (12), 2017.
  3. V.H. Granados, M.J. Pinheiro and P.A. Sá, Electrostatic propulsion device for aerodynamics applications, Physics of Plasmas, 073514 (7), p. 073514 (073511), 2016.
  4. K. Kutasi, P.A. Sá and V. Guerra, O2 dissociation in Ar-O2 surface-wave microwave discharges, Journal of Physics D-Applied Physics, 195205 (19), p. 195205 (195208), 2012.
  5. K. Kutasi, G. Vasco and P.A. Sá, Active species downstream of an Ar-O(2) surface-wave microwave discharge for biomedicine, surface treatment and nanostructuring, Plasma Sources Science & Technology, 20 (3), p. 035006 (035017), 2011.
  6. V. Guerra, K. Kutasi, P.A. Sá and M.l. Lino da Silva, Influence of nitrogen impurities on the formation of active species in Ar-O2 plasmas, European Physical Journal-Applied Physics, 24004 (2), p. 24004 (24006), 2011.
  7. J. Loureiro, V. Guerra, P.A. Sá, C.D. Pintassilgo and M.I. Lino Da Silva, Non-equilibrium kinetics in N-2 discharges and post-discharges: a full picture by modelling and impact on the applications, Plasma Sources Science & Technology, 024007 (2), p. 024007 (024012), 2011.
  8. V. Guerra, K. Kutasi, M.l. Lino da Silva, P.A. Sá and J. Loureiro, Kinetic Simulation of Discharges and after-glows in molecular gases, High Temperature Material Processes, 14 (1-2), pp. 141-156 (116), 2010.
  9. V. Guerra, K. Kutasi and P.A. Sá, O2(a1Dg) production in flowing Ar-O2 surface-wave microwave discharges: Possible use for oxygen-iodine laser excitation, Applied Physics Letters, 071503 (7), p. 071503 (071503), 2010.
  10. K. Kutasi, V. Guerra and P.A. Sá, Theoretical insight into Ar-O2 surface-wave microwave discharges, Journal of Physics D-Applied Physics, 175201 (17), p. 175201 (175214), 2010.