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Plasma Physics (Physics/ECE/NE 922) Seminars

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Events During the Week of October 2nd through October 9th, 2016

Monday, October 3rd, 2016

Magnetic Mirror Fusion Game Changing Discoveries
Time: 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
Place: 2241 Chamberlin Hall
Speaker: Tom Simonen, Michigan Tech
Abstract: Scientific results from the Russian Gas Dynamic Trap (GDT) experiment [1] and technological developments from ITER R&D motivate examination of new magnetic mirror confinement fusion concepts. This talk will describe advances in the understanding of the physics [2] of axisymmetric MHD- stability, ion cyclotron micro-stability and axial electron temperature confinement as well as developments in ITER of high-field superconducting magnets, high-frequency MW level microwave gyrotrons, and 1 MeV energy neutral beams all of which are applicable to mirror systems. Favoring high ion temperatures, we note that mirrors provide the possibility of burning advanced fuel such as DD [3].
Footnote: During the 1980's the Wisconsin Phaedrus experiment played a significant role in developing the understanding of mirror physics [4] and, more recently, collaborated with the GDT experiment.
1. P.A. Bagryanski, et al., Physical Review Letters 114, 205001 (2015)
2. T.C. Simonen, Journal of Fusion Energy 35, 63 (2016)
3. T.K. Fowler, submitted for publication and presented at Open Systems Conference 2016
4. N. Hershkowitz, Nuclear Fusion 30, 1761 (1990)
Host: Cary Forest
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Tuesday, October 4th, 2016

No events scheduled

Wednesday, October 5th, 2016

No events scheduled

Thursday, October 6th, 2016

No events scheduled

Friday, October 7th, 2016

In silico extreme plasmas: from plasma based accelerators to pair plasmas
Time: 3:30 pm
Place: 2241 Chamberlin hall
Speaker: Luis Silva, University of Lisbon
Abstract: The advent of ultra intense lasers and particle beams is opening new frontiers in physics by triggering the exploration of scenarios with unprecedented extreme conditions dominated by relativistic effects ranging from plasma based accelerators and intense light sources to collisionless shocks and the magnetospheres of pulsars. In some of these conditions, even QED effects play an importance role, with the production of hard photons and electron-positron pairs. These scenarios are highly nonlinear and can only be fully captured via self consistent ab initio massively parallel kinetic simulations. I will revise some of the most important advances and the open challenges in the field, illustrating how large scale numerical simulations are helping us to capture in silico these extreme laboratory and astrophysical environments.
Host: Cary Forest
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