PhD on Power exhaust in fusion reactors: Visualizing the role of flows

Are you eager to work on one of the biggest scientific endeavors ever take up by mankind: the development of fusion energy? Do you enjoy collaborating with international teams, and develop state of the art equipment to unravel the intriguing physics going on in plasmas of more than a million degree Celsius? Then this position might be for you!

One of the main challenges facing the development of a functional fusion reactor is managing the fusion power exhaust. In the tokamak configuration, which is currently the most promising reactor type, the plasma is directed to a part of the reactor called the divertor. The high power exhaust of the fusion reactor can cause damage to the divertor if it is not properly managed. Researchers are working to control the heat flux and improve the magnetic configuration, as well as adding impurities to the plasma edge that can help reduce the heat flux to safe levels. To understand the performance of the plasma in these conditions, we use plasma diagnostics. Plasmas in the divertor, where it is relatively cool, emit a lot of power as visible light. This light is monitored using multiple visible cameras. The focus of this PhD project is to develop a diagnostic system for the Swiss tokamak TCV that uses the Doppler shift of the light from the plasma to track the plasma flow across the entire divertor region. This technique, known as Coherence Imaging Spectroscopy (CIS), will be designed, built, and operated on the TCV with the help of international experts. The construction and operation of these complex optical systems requires a candidate who is enthusiastic, practical, and enjoys working and learning within a vibrant research group.

The project will be carried out as Eurotech collaboration between the team of Roger Jaspers, associate professor in the Fusion group at the department of Applied Physics and Science Education, TU/e, and the EPFL team (headed by Dr. B. Duval and in close connection with
Dr. A. Perek) in Switzerland, operating the TCV tokamak.

Besides research you will also contribute to education. Apart from supervising BSc and MSc students in their research projects, other assistance in education, e.g. in bachelor courses, is usually limited to about 5% of your contract time.

A meaningful job in a dynamic and ambitious university, in an interdisciplinary setting and within an international network. You will work on a beautiful, green campus within walking distance of the central train station. In addition, we offer you:

• Full-time employment for four years, with an intermediate evaluation (go/no-go) after nine months. You will spend 10% of your employment on teaching tasks.
• Salary and benefits (such as a pension scheme, paid pregnancy and maternity leave, partially paid parental leave) in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities.
• A year-end bonus of 8.3% and annual vacation pay of 8%.
• High-quality training programs and other support to grow into a self-aware, autonomous scientific researcher. At TU/e we challenge you to take charge of your own learning process.
• An excellent technical infrastructure, on-campus children's day care and sports facilities.
• An allowance for commuting, working from home and internet costs.
• A Staff Immigration Team and a tax compensation scheme (the 30% facility) for international candidates.