Plasma Physics (Physics/ECE/NE 922) Seminars |
Events During the Week of February 26th through March 5th, 2023
Monday, February 27th, 2023
- Advances in Stellarator Optimization
- Time: 12:00 pm
- Place: 2241 Chamberlin Hall
- Speaker: Sophia Henneberg, Max Planck Institute for Plasma Physics
- Abstract: Recent improvements in stellarator optimization and new stellarator designs will be presented. Stellarators possess three-dimensional magnetic fields typically solely generated by the coils’ magnetic field. This reduces or even eliminates the need for generating toroidal plasma currents, which can lead to detrimental instabilities such as disruptions. However, the three-dimensionality can in general involve some drawbacks, e.g., more complicated coils are typically needed compared to the axisymmetric case. Nonetheless, with careful exploitation of the large design space via optimization, the apparent disadvantages can be diminished. In stellarator optimization studies, the boundary of the plasma is usually described by Fourier series that are not unique: several sets of Fourier coefficients describe approximately the same boundary shape. A simple method for eliminating this arbitrariness is proposed and shown to work well in practice. Additionally, we investigate the mathematical structure of the various inter-related calculations that underpin the integrated stellarator optimization problem to better understand how the equilibrium calculation, the coil calculation, and the optimization calculation communicate with each other. Furthermore, new exciting stellarator designs with better confinement properties will be presented. Lastly, I will describe ongoing and future work including ideas for a new university experiment and ways forward for generating simpler coils.
Tuesday, February 28th, 2023
- No events scheduled
Wednesday, March 1st, 2023
- No events scheduled
Thursday, March 2nd, 2023
- Life Cycle of Magnetized Plasmas in the Universe
- Time: 2:30 pm
- Place: B343 Sterling Hall
- Speaker: Young Dae Yoon, Asia Pacific Center for Theoretical Physics
- Abstract: Magnetized plasmas are ubiquitous in the Universe and are important because many of the events therein are governed by their dynamics. Understanding their nature is thus crucial in various contexts including nuclear fusion, space, and astrophysics. Magnetized plasmas typically undergo three cyclic processes: “generation” of magnetic fields by the plasma, “relaxation” of the system to an equilibrium, and “explosion” of the stored magnetic energy back into the plasma. In this talk, I will present recent results in selected sub-processes within these categories, namely magnetic reconnection, ion energization, wave-particle interaction, and current sheet relaxation. I will then briefly discuss my vision for future work that calls for continued and expanded investigations of these processes.
Friday, March 3rd, 2023
- No events scheduled