Teaching
NOTE !! This is an old page. For the 2008-2009 lecture course go to the
Module pages of the physics department
Lecture notes
Slides of the lectures (PDF format)
Lecture 2 : Lawson criterion / plasma physics
Lecture 3: Force on the plasma / Virial theorem
Lecture 4 : Cylindiral concepts
Lecture 6 : Conserved quantities / Mirror / Tokamak
Lecture 7 : Stellarator / Tokamak
Lecture 8 Plasma shaping and vertical stability
Lecture 9 : Tokamak / beta limit / vertical stability
Lecture 10 : diagnostics / running a discharge
Lecture 11 Diagnostics / Ohmic heating
Lecture 12 : Ohmic heating / Classical transport / particle motion in tokamak
Lecture 13 : Diffusion equation / Transport
Lecture 15: Inertial confinement fusion
Slides of the lectures (Power-point format)
Lecture 1: The basics (powerpoint)
Lecture 2 : Lawson criterion / plasma physics (powerpoint)
Lecture 3: Force on the plasma / Virial theorem (powerpoint)
Lecture 4 : Cylindiral concepts (powerpoint)
Lecture 5 : Particle motion (powerpoint)
Lectrure6 : Conserved quatities / Mirror / Tokamak (powerpoint)
Lecture 7 : Stellarator / Tokamak (powerpoint)
Lecture 8 Plasma shaping and vertical stability (powerpoint)
Lecture 9 : Tokamak / beta limit / vertical stability (powerpoint)
Lecture 10 : diagnostics / running a discharge (powerpoint)
Lecture 11 Diagnostics / Ohmic heating (powerpoint)
Lecture 12 : Heating (powerpoint)
Lecture 13 : Diffusion equation / Transport (powerpoint)
Lecture 14 : Transport / ITER (powerpoint)
Lecture 15: Inertial confinement fusion (powerpoint)
Movie of the turbulence in a tokamak plasma
Lecturer: Arthur G. Peeters
Weighting: 7.5 CATS
Aims:
The course will discuss the two main approaches: inertial confinement and magnetic confinement, with the emphasis on the later since it is further developed. The course will deal with both the physics phenomena as well as with the boundary conditions that must be satisfied for a working reactor.
Objectives
By the end of the module, you should:
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be familiar with the main experimental reactor concepts.
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have an understanding of the boundary conditions such concepts have to satisfy
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be familiar with the main physics effect, and understand how they influence the reactor design.
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have a deep understanding of a few chosen subjects of the field
Syllabus:
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Introduction
Nuclear fusion / Energy production / Efficiency of a reactor / Current status
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Essential elements of plasma physics (briefly introduced)
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Magnetic confinement.
Virial theorem / Pressure equilibrium / Why the simplest topology for good energy confinement is the torus.
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The tokamak .
Reason for the plasma current / Plasma elongation / Vertical instability and control / The divertor and impurity control / External heating / Energy confinement .
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Energy confinement
Collision dominated transport / Instabilities and turbulence
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Inertial confinement fusion
Basic concept / Current status / Physics challenges
Commitment: 15 Lectures
Assessment: 1.5 hour examination
Recommended Texts: Lecture notes
Other useful books include: J.A. Wesson