Fusion plasma theory and modelling

The Plasma Theory and Modelling group focuses on understanding these fundamental properties of plasmas through a variety of different academic perspectives.

About

Big machines, hot plasma, and cool technology

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Cutaway diagram of the future ITER experiment
Cutaway diagram of the future ITER experiment
  • Plasma physics lies at the centre of many exciting technologies that are undergoing rapid development in the scientific and engineering communities. In particular, the drive behind magnetically-confined nuclear fusion is gaining significant momentum with the recently emerging desires of governments and national populations to get away from fossil-fuel based power. Construction has recently started in France on the first fusion reactor--dubbed ITER--that will consistently produce more energy than it consumes. The technical and scientific challenges inherent to the construction of ITER are some of the greatest that the scientific and engineering communities have ever had to face. 

The Plasma Theory and Modelling group focuses on understanding these fundamental properties of plasmas through a variety of different academic perspectives. With a particular focus on magnetically-confined plasma physics, the group has an eclectic range of expertise including modelling and computer simulation of plasma turbulence and equilibria, fluid dynamics, mathematical theory of dynamical systems, plasma diagnostic design and using advanced statistical techniques in analysing experimental data. The group also actively fosters international collaboration in plasma research and is currently engaged in research with scientists in the UK, Germany and the United States.

Beyond nuclear fusion, the Plasma Theory and Modelling group has members whose interests also include the dynamics, modelling and computer simulation associated with weather, fluid flow and space plasma phenomena, to name just a few.

If you have any interest in plasma theory or modelling please feel free to contact any of the researchers in the group; we would be very happy to talk with you!

Presentations

An overview of the research activity within the group is available in the following seminars.

More information

Research in the physics of complex physical systems spans physics, engineering, applied mathematics and computational science. Research in this multidisciplinary field gives a good generalist training applicable to many careers.

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As PT&M scientists have strong collaborations with researchers around the globe, often overseas collaborators will come and visit the PT&M group at ANU to not only work on research but to also give talks to the school about their academic work. Here you will find information on researchers that recently came to work on their collaborations with PT&M group members.

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Fusion plasma theory and modelling publications

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Useful links

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Projects

This project aims to characterise the properties of network-packet captures (both batched and streaming), and use a combination of statistical techniques , Fourier and higher order spectral methods and correlation analysis techniques to develop candidate reduced “forward-models” for the network parameters.

Student intake

Open for Summer scholar students

Status

Potential

People

Fusion plasmas can support a wide range of electromagnetic waves, ranging from pressure and current gradient driven modes to those driven unstable by fast particle-wave resonance. The diagnosis and control of fusion plasmas is contingent on the accurate modelling, prediction, and reliable measurement of such modes.

Student intake

Open for Honours, Masters, PhD students

Status

Potential

People

This project seeks to provide a fundamental understanding of the process of energetic particle redistribution from the perspective of thermodynamics and entropy.

Student intake

Open for Honours, Masters, PhD students

Status

Potential

People

Magnetic equilibrium and particle orbit modelling of the OpenStar Dipole

Student intake

Open for Honours, Masters, MPhil, PhD, Summer scholar students

Status

Current

People

Members

Leader

Professor

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