Optimal plasma edge configurations for next step fusion reactors.

The goal ofthe research is to significantly improve the working conditions of next-step fusion reactors (ITER, DEMO). More specifically, optimization techniques are developed for coupled plasma edge simulation codes. Primarilygeometric optimization of fusion reactors subject to strong recycling conditions is aimed for. In a first stage, numerical optimization of the divertor targets with respect to optimal energy load spreading at fixed pumping capacity is envisaged. By using advanced adjoint-based optimization algorithms, the entire divertor design problem is solved at a computational cost only a small multiple of the cost of a single edge plasma simulation. The research opens further perspectives towards the optimization of transient operating conditions such as ELMs (edge-localized
modes), optimal Carbon deposition and Helium removal.
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Keywords:Fusion reactors

Disciplines:Electrical power engineering, Energy generation, conversion and storage engineering, Applied mathematics in specific fields, Classical physics, Physics of gases, plasmas and electric discharges

Project type:PhD project