Numerical calculations – an important part of the TauEB project
An important part of the TauEB project is understanding how to prevent plasma from leaking out of the mirror machine built by the project partner Novatron Fusion Group (NFG). As part of this work, Axel Tibbling, a computational physicist at NFG, is studying how electric potentials can be used to stop fusion plasma from escaping.
"By creating an electric potential that acts on the charged ions – the ones responsible for the actual fusion reactions in the plasma – you prevent them from leaking out and thereby achieve longer confinement times," he says.
Fusion power has the possibility to become a major energy source for the future. The idea behind fusion is to build machines that mimic the fusion processes that naturally occurs in the Sun. But instead of gravity, which heats and compresses the plasma in the Sun, we on Earth must use strong magnetic fields to achieve the same effect. The current challenge for fusion is to keep the plasma confined when reaching the temperatures and pressures required for fusion. Computational physics is an important tool for studying how plasma behaves under different conditions.
The machine NFG has built is a so‑called mirror machine, which means the particles in the plasma bounce between two strong magnets. At the high pressures and temperatures required for a fusion reactor, it becomes increasingly difficult to prevent the plasma from escaping. Here, simulation and modelling play an important role in finding the right method. One part of Axel Tibbling’s work is creating the models needed to investigate how electrostatic forces are affected by and generated by the plasma.
"The goal is to create a model of the plasma in the reactor, and through it find the optimal conditions for the plasma to extract as much energy as possible. We are currently working toward a self‑consistent theoretical model of the plasma in the machine," says Axel Tibbling.
Understanding fusion plasma is an essential part of the TauEB project and something that appeals strongly to Axel. He studied Engineering Physics with a master’s in Theoretical Physics at KTH.
"For me, a big part has been the opportunity to work on something that represents the future and to be part of it. Plasma physics has many depths that make the problems both fun and challenging, and you need to be very creative. Depending on what you want to learn from the plasma, you can use different mathematical tools to understand it," he says.