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Projects: Projects for Investigator
Reference Number EP/R029148/1
Title Plasma Physics HEC Consortium
Status Completed
Energy Categories Nuclear Fission and Fusion(Nuclear Fusion) 80%;
Not Energy Related 20%;
Research Types Basic and strategic applied research 100%
Science and Technology Fields PHYSICAL SCIENCES AND MATHEMATICS (Physics) 80%;
PHYSICAL SCIENCES AND MATHEMATICS (Computer Science and Informatics) 20%;
UKERC Cross Cutting Characterisation Not Cross-cutting 100%
Principal Investigator Prof TD (Tony ) Arber
No email address given
Physics
University of Warwick
Award Type Standard
Funding Source EPSRC
Start Date 01 June 2018
End Date 31 December 2022
Duration 55 months
Total Grant Value £227,262
Industrial Sectors No relevance to Underpinning Sectors
Region West Midlands
Programme NC : Infrastructure
 
Investigators Principal Investigator Prof TD (Tony ) Arber , Physics, University of Warwick (99.981%)
  Other Investigator Professor PA Norreys , Oxford Physics, University of Oxford (0.001%)
Dr M Barnes , Oxford Physics, University of Oxford (0.001%)
Professor RA Walczak , Oxford Physics, University of Oxford (0.001%)
Professor P Browning , Physics and Astronomy, University of Manchester (0.001%)
Dr RJ Kingham , Department of Physics (the Blackett Laboratory), Imperial College London (0.001%)
Professor J Chittenden , Department of Physics (the Blackett Laboratory), Imperial College London (0.001%)
Professor Z Najmudin , Department of Physics (the Blackett Laboratory), Imperial College London (0.001%)
Dr RHH Scott , Central Laser Facility (CLF), STFC (Science & Technology Facilities Council) (0.001%)
Dr BF McMillan , Physics, University of Warwick (0.001%)
Dr K Bennett , Physics, University of Warwick (0.001%)
Professor H Wilson , Physics, University of York (0.001%)
Dr RGL Vann , Physics, University of York (0.001%)
Dr BD Dudson , Physics, University of York (0.001%)
Dr CP Ridgers , Physics, University of York (0.001%)
Dr D Dickinson , Physics, University of York (0.001%)
Dr P McKenna , Physics, University of Strathclyde (0.001%)
Professor DA Jaroszynski , Physics, University of Strathclyde (0.001%)
Professor Z Sheng , Physics, University of Strathclyde (0.001%)
Dr CM (Colin ) Roach , Culham Centre for Fusion Energy, EURATOM/CCFE (0.001%)
Web Site
Objectives
Abstract Plasma physics is the study of the properties of ionised gases. The processes, which need to be investigated, cover kinetic theory of matter far from its equilibrium state, fluid dynamics of magnetised and conductive plasmas and the interaction of these across a huge range of time and length scales, often in complex geometries. Such problems are rarely tractable analytically and thus much of plasma physics relies on High End Computing (HEC) to perform massive simulations.This HEC Consortium will cover all aspects of computational plasma physics. This includes modelling for magnetic confinement fusion (MCF) devices to optimize reactor performance, simulations to optimize laser-particle accelerator sources, novel approaches to high-intensity laser-plasma experiments and laser-driven fusion. In all these areas HEC resources are needed for simulations which are essential to either guide experiments and research programmes (including providing a reliable predictive capability for the performance of future plasma facilities) or to interpret the complex diagnostic sets from coupled multi-scale, non-linear and often relativistic processes.To help maintain the UK's leading role in fusion reactor design and basic plasma physics the HEC Consortium requires a block allocation of UK National level computing resource, so called Tier-1 HEC. This will ease the access to such facilities and allow the UK to collectively plan computational programmes, which will require many years to complete, in the certainty that the computing resources will be available. Over the four-year duration of this HEC Consortium computer architectures may change and optimising codes for current and future machines is therefore essential. In addition, new physics packages must be developed and implemented to keep the UK at the cutting edge of this research. The Consortium therefore also requires funding for software development to exploit the computing resources and keep codes world-leading.Applications of the scientific research enabled by the combination of Tier-1 HEC and software support are diverse. Much of the research of the Consortium will be directed at improving reactor designs for fusion power. This is both MCF and laser fusion energy (IFE). For the former the HEC will concentrate on understanding how energy is transported from the hot plasma core and managing the extreme heat loads incident on surrounding walls. IFE's primary challenge is achieving laser-driven fusion by mitigating non-uniformities in the fuel pellet implosion, understanding the generation of fast-electrons which may prevent fusion and designing novel approached to fusion, e.g. shock or fast ignition schemes. Laser-driven plasma accelerators and radiation sources have many forms, ranging from laser-irradiated solids to compact capillary discharges; with applications including fast-ignition based laser fusion, ion sources for radiotherapy and compact ultrafast x-ray sources for penetrative probing.
Publications (none)
Final Report (none)
Added to Database 04/02/19