On the effect of turbulence on anomalous power deposition in fusion plasmas
Carlsberg Foundation
University of Oxford, Theoretical Astrophysics and Plasma Physics group at Rudolf Peierls Centre for Theoretical Physics
What? A hot magnetized fusion plasma is a medium which can support a large number of waves and wave interactions. High power microwaves injected into a fusion plasma can interact with plasma waves which causes them to deposit power in unexpected regions of the plasma. Steep gradients in the edge of the plasma may further complicate this by giving rise to plasma turbulence which affects microwave propagation. Why? High power microwaves play an important role in starting and sustaining fusion plasmas through localized heating and current drive. Most current heating schemes are challenged in fusion plasmas with a high fuel density but newer advanced microwave schemes may work without at arbitrary densities and high efficiencies. Knowing where the power is deposited is important but wave interactions and turbulence can complicate this significantly. Efficient microwave heating is crucial to the design of the UK demonstration fusion power plant STEP. How? By developing analytical models and validating them against simulations run on supercomputers, a predictive capability can be developed. Experiments at the MAST-U fusion device in the UK will mature the models so that they may contribute to the empirical foundation of the design of the STEP device.
Postdoc / Visiting Fellowships at University of Oxford / Award