Understanding electromagnetic fields created in fusion relevant conditions.
Eleanor Tubman, Professor
Nuclear Engineering
Closed. This professor is continuing with Fall 2024 apprentices on this project; no new apprentices needed for Spring 2025.
Fusion is an ongoing effort worldwide to produce a ‘clean’ energy resource. There are several approaches to achieving net energy gain that are being utilised. Inertial confinement fusion (ICF) is a method of achieving fusion energy, typically using lasers to implode and heat the fuel. However, there are, and will be, further physics challenges that are ill-diagnosed and not yet understood. This project is investigating electromagnetic fields created within hohlraum-like conditions- imaging the fields using proton radiography and also looking at the plasma conditions through the x-ray emission and density perturbations.
Role: Work undertaken in this project will be helping to analyse experimental data and develop new imaging diagnostics. The analysis of experimental data will give us an idea of the plasma's fields, temperatures, velocities and densities. We will be trialling new methods to improve the diagnosis of the plasma using various different diagnostics such as proton radiography, x-ray imaging, interferometry and Thomson scattering. We will also be using and modifying analysis codes to assist in understanding measurements. The project will be to look at one of these diagnostics (not all diagnostics listed here) and is flexible depending on the applicant's interest and immediate need of the research project.
Qualifications: Prior experience in plasma or nuclear physics is desirable but not necessary, but applicants should demonstrate experimental and technical experience including in data analysis techniques.
Knowledge of python or MATLAB is required.
Hours: 9-11 hrs
Mathematical and Physical Sciences Engineering, Design & Technologies