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Nuclear Fusion and Plasma Physics

PHYS-445
Physics and Energy

About this course

The goal of the course is to provide the physics and technology basis for controlled fusion research, from the main elements of plasma physics to the reactor concepts

  1. Basics of thermonuclear fusion
  2. The plasma state and its collective effects
  3. Charged particle motion and collisional effects
  4. Fluid description of a plasma
  5. Plasma equilibrium and stability
  6. Magnetic confinement: Tokamak and Stellarator
  7. Waves in plasma
  8. Wave-particle interactions
  9. Heating and non inductive current drive by radio frequency waves
  10. Heating and non inductive current drive by neutral particle beams
  11. Material science and technology: Low and high Temperature superconductor - Properties of material under irradiation
  12. Some nuclear aspects of a fusion reactor: Tritium production
  13. Licensing a fusion reactor: safety, nuclear waste
  14. Inertial confinement

Learning outcomes

  • Design the main elements of a fusion reactor
  • Identify the main physics challenges on the way to fusion
  • Identify the main technological challenges of fusion

Enrolment details

Contact coordinator via email

Examination

Oral Exam - Exam period is from 13/01/2025 to 01/02/2025 . Exam dates will be announced in mid-November. Oral exam using VOIP. Exam registration before 22/11/2024.

Course requirements

Basic knowledge of electricity and magnetism, and of simple concepts of fluids

Resources

  • https://courseware.epfl.ch/courses/course-v1:EPFL+PlasmaIntroduction+1T_2018/about
  • https://courseware.epfl.ch/courses/course-v1:EPFL+PlasmaApplication+1T_2018/about

Additional information

  • Credits
    ECTS 4
  • Level
    Master
  • Contact hours per week
    4
  • Instructors
    Ambrogio Fasoli
  • Mode of instruction
    Online - time-independent
If anything remains unclear, please check the FAQ of EPFL (Switzerland).
There are currently no offerings available for students of L'X (France)