Universities and the UK Magnetic Confinement Fusion ...
Transcript of Universities and the UK Magnetic Confinement Fusion ...
Universities and the UK
Magnetic Confinement Fusion Programme:
Context, Plasma Physics and Training Centres
Roddy Vann Programme Director for the EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in the Science and Technology of Fusion Energy
York Plasma Institute Department of Physics, University of York, Heslington, York YO10 5DD UK
Outline
• PhD in the fusion landscape
• Some of the science issues to be addressed
• Fusion training networks
• Where can a fusion PhD take you?
• Fusion Energy MSc at the University of York
• Low temperature plasmas
Roadmap to Fusion Power
MFE
Relevant to MFE & IFE
IFE
High-level pathway for UK fusion energy [RCUK Energy Programme report "A 20-year vision for the UK contribution to fusion as an energy source" (2010) http://www.epsrc.ac.uk/SiteCollectionDocuments/press-release-documents/20-yearvision.pdf]
PhD Postdoc Career 2010 2020 2030
Most experiments in the UK are performed on MAST, JET
and smaller-scale university facilities
Remote control room allows direct
access to data and control of
diagnostics at remote facilities –
including overseas
Theory and simulation:
The ARCHER national supercomputer is a valuable asset
The ARCHER national
supercomputer is a valuable asset
We also run codes on international
supercomputers e.g. MARCONI
International collaboration is central to magnetic confinement
fusion: major opportunities for international travel
• PhD students have worked on a wide range of fusion facilities an
research groups around the world Germany (AUG, TEXTOR, Stuttgart University)
Netherlands (Magnum-PSI)
S Korea (KSTAR)
US (General Atomics, Princeton, Austin, Lawrence Livermore National
Laboratory, …)
Australia
….
• The future offers further international opportunities – China (EAST and HL-2M)
– Japan (JT-60SA)
– Germany (W7-X)
– …
http://www.iter.org/
Research in support of ITER and DEMO
The Plasma Science Issues: Through a MAST Discharge
The Plasma Science Issues: Through a MAST Discharge
Plasma-based Doctoral Training Networks
in Fusion Energy
• A collaboration between three universities
• The Universities involved are
– University of Oxford (Physics)
– Imperial College, London
– University of Warwick
• Focus is on plasma physics aspects
– Experiments on major international facilities
– Theory and high performance computing
• A range of advanced plasma courses across the three universities provides
rigorous training
• Strong partnerships with RAL, STFC and CCFE
Centre for Postgraduate Training in Plasma Physics and
High Energy Density Science
• A collaboration between five universities and three government research labs
£10M training programme, training ~100 PhD students over 7 cohorts
• The Universities involved are
– University of Durham: advanced instrumentation; superconducting strand
– University of Liverpool: plasma exhaust physics; technological/medical
plasmas
– University of Manchester: materials, nuclear physics and activation
– University of Oxford: materials
– University of York (lead): magnetic confinement and inertial confinement
fusion; technological/medical plasmas; nuclear physics
• The Government research labs involved are
– Culham Centre for Fusion Energy
– Central Laser Facility, Rutherford Appleton Lab
– AWE
• Strong international links (e.g. ITER, NIF…)
EPSRC’s Fusion Centre for Doctoral Training
Collaboratory • Project management
• Critical thinking
• International network
• Communication
• Leadership
Taught courses •Formal lectures – breadth and depth
•Hands-on courses
Annual workshop and
seminars
•Networking with fusion
leaders
•Industry and careers event
•Student-led conference
Training Fusion leaders
Outreach • Communication
• Confidence
• Leadership
International facilities • International network
• Strong technical skills
Enhanced employability in the Fusion CDT
A flavour of PhD graduate destinations:
•Jack Snape – BIS
•Tom Williams – AMEC
•Joe Bushell – AMEC
•Rachel McAdams – PWC
•Jamie Beal – Kilburn & Strode (patent attorney)
•Llion Evans – CCFE materials
•Lucy Wilson – RAL PDRA
•Rachel Dance – Strathclyde PDRA
•Scott Silburn – JET
•Billy Huang – Tokamak Energy
•Matt Leyland – UoY PDRA on JET
•Nick Walkden – CCFE plasma science
•Lee Morgan – CCFE neutronics
Fusion Energy and Plasma Science MSc
at the University of York
• One-year Masters (MSc) at University of York (or 2-year part-time)
• A range of modules spanning basic plasma physics, fusion technology, high
performance computing, magnetic confinement, inertial confinement, low
temperature plasma, astrophysical plasmas, high energy density plasmas
• A choice from a wide range of projects over the summer (some with CCFE
and RAL….and possibly ITER)
– Modelling and experiment of laser-produced plasmas
– Theory, computer simulations and experiment of drift waves in cylindrical plasmas
– Experiments at the Central Laser Facility (RAL) on ICF issues
– Computer modelling of fast electrons in laser-produced plasmas
– Dynamics of the edge transport barrier in MAST
Low temperature plasmas beyond fusion – From advanced manufacturing to biomedicine and space travel
Intel plasma
etcher at YPI Labs Atmospheric plasma for
biomedical research at YPI
Plasma thruster developed by our
collaborators at ANU, Canberra