Measurement of Laser Attenuation through Flibe, with Xcimer Energy
Raluca Scarlat, Professor
Nuclear Engineering
Open. Apprentices needed for the fall semester. Enter your application online beginning August 21st. The deadline to apply is Monday, August 31st, 4pm.
This project will investigate whether vapor generated from a flowing FLiBe liquid wall can interfere with the high-energy 248 nm laser beams proposed for next-generation inertial-fusion reactors, with direct relevance to Xcimer Energy’s laser-fusion architecture. The student will help develop an experimental rig to measure how hot, transient FLiBe vapor, droplets, and aerosols absorb, scatter, refract, or potentially undergo laser-induced breakdown under fusion-relevant conditions. The work may involve optical spectroscopy, laser transmission measurements, plasma diagnostics with the goal of identifying the conditions under which vapor significantly reduces beam energy or distorts propagation. The project will also involve the development and implementation of rigorous beryllium-handling and laboratory safety protocols for safely loading, containing, and operating a high-temperature pipe system containing molten FLiBe. This is an open research question with no published measurements directly addressing FLiBe transmission and breakdown at Xcimer’s operating wavelength, offering the opportunity to generate fundamental data with applications in laser fusion, molten-salt reactors, and high-temperature energy systems.
Role: Rig Development: Help build and commission the high-temperature optical test rig. Learn: experimental design, instrumentation, and optical alignment.
Optical Diagnostics: Measure laser transmission, absorption, scattering, and emission. Learn: spectroscopy and laser diagnostics.
Molten-Salt Safety: Develop safe procedures for handling and loading beryllium-containing FLiBe. Learn: hazard analysis, containment, and high-temperature safety.
Data Analysis: Analyse results and relate them to fusion-reactor operating conditions. Learn: scientific programming, uncertainty analysis, and engineering interpretation.
Qualifications: The student should have a strong background in mechanical and/or chemical engineering or physics. They should have some laboratory or experimental experience. They should be comfortable with basic Python. An interest in lasers, optics, or spectroscopy is desirable. They should demonstrate a careful and responsible approach to laboratory safety.
Day-to-day supervisor for this project: Matei Ignuta-Ciuncanu, Post-Doc
Hours: 9-11 hrs
Related website: salt.nuc.berkeley.edu
Engineering, Design & Technologies Mathematical and Physical Sciences