Successful operation of the ITER tokamak requires divertor operation in a detached plasma regime, in order to reduce the heat flux to the divertor plates to below the technological limits of actively-cooled plasma-facing components, namely 10 MW/m2. Experiments indicate that the detached plasma state can be associated with particle recycling and ion-neutral friction at the near surface plasma, leading to cooling and temperature gradients along the magnetic field lines, but different phenomena are still not understood and detailed experimental data to validate scrape-off layer codes is still missing. The main objective of this PhD project is to provide a full picture of the near-surface plasma in an ITER-relevant divertor regime and get a fundamental understanding of the physical mechanisms behind detachment in tokamaks through detailed diagnosis and modelling. This research will be carried out on the high-flux linear plasma generator Magnum-PSI. All available diagnostics will be deployed for this purpose, including an upgraded newly developed collective Thomson scattering (CTS) for unambiguous measurement of the ion properties. This work focusses on full diagnosis of detached plasma, with tight interaction with modelling groups at DIFFER, FZJ and CEA. Responsibilities and tasks:
- Preparation of diagnostic suite and operational scenarios, experiments on detachment Chemistry;
- Experiments on neutral recycling on material surfaces and measurement of radiation losses for various impurity seeding scenarios;
- Study of the dynamics of the re-attachment process by applying transient plasma fluxes.

We seek enthusiastic and highly talented candidates that are willing to work in an international and interdisciplinary team of physicists and chemists. The applicant should hold or be pursuing a Master degree (or an equivalent diploma giving access to doctoral studies) in experimental or technical physics. A background in at least plasma physics and optics is required. Good verbal and written communication skills in English are mandatory.

Fixed-term contract: four years.

When fulfilling a PhD position at NWO-I, you will get the status of junior scientist.  You will have an employee status and can participate in all the employee benefits NWO-I offers. You will get a contract for four years. Your salary will be up to a maximum of 2,834 euro gross per month. The salary is supplemented with a holiday allowance of 8 percent and an end-of-year bonus of 8.33 percent.  You are supposed to have a thesis finished at the end of your four year term with NWO-I.  A training programme is part of the agreement. You and your supervisor will make up a plan for the additional education and supervising that you specifically need. This plan also defines which teaching activities you will be responsible (up to a maximum of ten percent of your time). The conditions of employment of NWO-I are laid down in the Collective Labour Agreement for Research Centres (Cao-Onderzoekinstellingen), more exclusive information is available at this website under Personeelsinformatie (in Dutch) or under Personnel (in English). General information about working at NWO-I can be found in the English part of this website under Personnel. The 'Job interview code' applies to this position.

DIFFER

DIFFER (Dutch Institute for Fundamental Energy Research), Eindhoven, is one of the institutes and focuses on a multidisciplinarily approach of the energy research combining physics, chemistry, engineering and materials science. The institute is based on two main strands, solar fuels for the conversion and storage of renewable energy and fusion-energy as clean and unlimited source of energy. DIFFER is developing and supporting a national network on fundamental energy research and is closely collaborating with academic institutions, research institutes and industry.