Fusion and Plasma Physics
The group focuses on magnetically confined fusion plasma physics. In the large context, the aim is to create a new, clean source of energy. The research activities concentrate on physics problems relevant to large tokamaks and stellarators.
The group is one of the research units of ASSOCIATION EURATOM-TEKES, which in turn enables cooperation in the framework of EFDA - European fusion development agreement. The group also wishes to acknowledge support from Academy of Finland, and various funds.
Fusion and Plasma Physics group is led by Professor Rainer Salomaa. For other contacts, please consider secretary Eila Jylkäs, or one of the staff members mentioned in a specific context.
The Collaboration with Experimental Research Institutes
Instead of maintaining independent experimental apparatuses, the group works in close cooperation with the following fusion organisations:
ITER
ITER is the first tokamak to be build as a real fusion reactor.
The Fusion and Plasma Physics group has recently contributed to:
- studies of heat flux incident to the first wall by fast ions.
- evaluating the effect of RF and NBI generated fast ions on the measurement capabilities of ITER diagnostics.
- core transport and MHD stability.
The Joint European Torus, JET
JET is the largest experimental fusion device in the world. It is jointly operated by European fusion organisations. Fusion and Plasma Physics group has members visiting and working in JET for periods spanning from weeks to years.
The people from our group mainly contribute in developing, maintaining, and running computational models. In addition to studying new physics, these models are used to provide information to scientists when they are preparing and/or analyzing their experiments. Typical examples of such simulations include calculating wall loads due to lost fast particles and the torque they insert on the plasma. In addition to modelling, our group is also involved in using and developing the Neutral Particle Analyser (NPA).
ASDEX Upgrade
ASDEX Upgrade divertor tokamak is the largest fusion device in Germany, and a project of The Max-Planck-Institut für Plasmaphysik. The tokamak has unique all-Tungsten first-wall and large amounts of non-inductive heating, giving a reactor relevant power density.
The Fusion and Plasma Physics group works in close collaboration with the ASDEX Upgrade team. Members of the Fusion and Plasma Physics group visit ASDEX Upgrade usually for two to four weeks at a time. For more information about ASDEX Upgrade work, please contact Taina Kurki-Suonio.
Ioffe-institute
Ioffe institute is a research institute located in St.Petersburg with several experimental devices. Advanced experimental diagnostics allow for direct comparison of our simulation results to experimental data. Active collaboration includes annual Finnish-Russian meetings as well as research visits for periods spanning from weeks to months.