Plasma Theory and Modelling Group

plasmas, fluids — complex physical systems

Big Machines, Hot Plasma, and Cool Technology

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. Consequently, a race is currently on to ascertain as much understanding as possible about the fundamental workings of magnetically confined plasmas, so as to best ensure the success of ITER when construction is completed in 2024.

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 plasmas, 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!

News and Announcements

The US National Science Foundation has funding for graduate students to spend about 8 weeks doing research in Australia (and other Asia Pacific countries). Application deadline is Tuesday, December 8, 2009.

For Details see http://nsfsi.org/

The East Asia and Pacific Summer Institutes (EAPSI) goals are to introduce U.S. graduate students to East Asia and Pacific science and engineering in the context of a research setting, and to help students initiate scientific relationships that will better enable future collaboration with foreign counterparts. Selected students participate in research experiences at host laboratories in Australia, China, Japan, Korea, New Zealand, Singapore, or Taiwan. All institutes, except Japan, last approximately 8 weeks from June to August. Japan lasts approximately 10 weeks from June to August.

Students

Researchers

Prof Robert L. Dewar (personal home page)
Dr Matthew J. Hole (personal home page)
Dr Greg von Nessi (personal home page)
Dr Jay Larson (Visiting Fellow and Argonne National Lab.)
Dr Haibin Li (Visiting Fellow)

Overseas Visitors

2009 Prof James Meiss (July)
2008 Prof Richard Dendy (Dec 5-20)
2008 Prof Howard Wilson (Dec 5-10)

Australian Collaborators Elsewhere

Dr Rowena Ball (personal home page)
Dr Linda Stals (ANU Mathematical Sciences Institute)
Dr Jorgen Frederiksen (CSIRO & Visiting Fellow, DTP, RSPhysSE, ANU)
Dr Henry J. Gardner (Dept. of Computer Science, FEIT, ANU)
Prof Robin G. Storer (Flinders University of South Australia)
Dr Frank Detering (Diversity Arrays Technology