Topics requested for admission to the doctoral study at NE-PTTF

Nuclear Engineering - Department of Physics (Physics and techniques of thermo-nuclear fusion specialization)

  1. Fundamentals of Thermonuclear Fusion

    Principle of thermonuclear fusion, Main fusion reactions, Cross-section and reactivity, Fusion gain, Confinement time, Lawson criterion, Triple product

  2. Fundamentals of Plasma Physics

    Kinetic and hydrodynamic description of plasma, Particle trajectories in a magnetic field, Waves in plasma, Collisions and diffusion in plasma, Plasma modeling using the PIC method

  3. Thermonuclear Fusion in Stars

    Gravitational confinement of plasma, Proton-proton fusion cycle, Standard solar model, Solar diagnostics, Stellar life cycle, Novae and supernovae

  4. Basics of Inertial Fusion

    Laser fusion, Alternatives, Need for compression, Target properties, Direct and indirect ignition, Fast ignition

  5. Basics of Magnetic Confinement Fusion

    Principle of confinement in a magnetic field, Magnetohydrodynamics (MHD), Equilibrium and stability, Open systems – pinches and magnetic mirrors, Anomalous transport

  6. Tokamaks and Stellarators

    Magnetic field configurations in tokamaks and stellarators, Advantages and disadvantages of both configurations, Examples of tokamaks and stellarators, ITER project

  7. Plasma Instabilities

    Radiative instabilities, Current-driven instabilities, Kinetic instabilities, Examples of instabilities in ideal and resistive MHD, Real-time plasma control

  8. Diagnostics of High-Temperature Plasma

    Optical diagnostics, Microwave diagnostics, Langmuir probes, Particle and X-ray measurements, Passive and active diagnostics

  9. Engineering Research in Thermonuclear Fusion

    Material issues (first wall, radiation damage, induced activity), Tritium breeding from lithium, Superconductors, Plasma heating technologies, Reactor cooling

  10. Perspective of Fusion Energy Utilization

    Safety of fusion power plants, Sustainability of fusion power plants, Efficiency, Fuel cycle (role of lithium), Remote maintenance, Open research questions