Anders Henry Nielsen  –  Adjunct Professor

Juan Manuel Losada  –  Postdoctoral Fellow

Audun Theodorsen  –  Associate Professor

Laszlo Pal Csernai  –  Professor Emeritus

Odd Erik Garcia  –  Professor

Gregor Decristoforo  –  Senior Engineer

Olga Paikina  –  Doctoral Research Fellow

Synne Brynjulfsen  –  Doctoral Research Fellow

Rolf Annar Berg Nilsen  –  Doctoral Research Fellow

Jan Petter Hansen  –  Professor

Martin Møller Greve  –  Associate Professor

Johannes Mørkrid  –  Doctoral Research Fellow

First publication from FUSENOW

In this study, researchers investigated the behavior of plasma in the boundary region of the Alcator C-Mod tokamak, a compact, high-field fusion reactor. Using advanced diagnostic tools, they focused on the "scrape-off layer" (SOL), the outermost region of the plasma where particles and heat escape and interact with the reactor walls. This region is critical because it determines how much heat and particle flux the reactor walls must endure, which directly impacts the longevity and safety of fusion devices.

The team observed the movement of "blobs"—coherent structures of plasma that carry particles and heat radially outward. These blobs are like turbulent bursts that can deposit significant energy onto the reactor walls in short, localized pulses. By analyzing data from specialized probes and imaging systems, the researchers discovered that as the core plasma density increases, these blobs become faster, larger, and more dominant throughout the SOL. This leads to a "flattening" of the plasma density profile, meaning the plasma spreads further out toward the walls.

To explain these observations, the researchers used a stochastic model, which treats the plasma fluctuations as a superposition of random, uncorrelated pulses. The model successfully predicted key features of the plasma behavior, including the density profile and the statistical properties of the fluctuations. Importantly, the study showed that the e-folding length of the plasma density profile (a measure of how quickly the density decreases with distance) is directly linked to the velocity of the blobs and the time it takes particles to escape along magnetic field lines.

These findings have significant implications for the design of future fusion reactors. As fusion devices operate at higher densities to achieve better performance, the increased blob activity and flattened profiles could lead to more intense interactions with reactor walls. Understanding and predicting these effects will help engineers design materials and structures that can withstand the harsh conditions at the plasma edge, bringing us closer to realizing the dream of fusion energy.

This research highlights the importance of studying plasma turbulence and edge dynamics in fusion devices. By combining advanced diagnostics with theoretical modeling, the team has provided valuable insights into the complex behavior of plasma at the boundary, paving the way for more robust and efficient fusion reactors in the future.

The publication is available online in the journal Nuclear Fusion.

Popular science article at forskning.no

The leaders of the FUSENOW center has just published a popular science article in Norwegian at forskning.no, descrbing developments in the field of fusion power, activities in Norway and the FUSENOW center.

Postdoctoral research fellow position on laser fusion announced at UiB

At the Department of Physics and Technology, University of Bergen, there is a vacancy for a postdoctoral research position within experimental quantum technologies for laser fusion experiments within the NAPLIFE collaboration. The position is for a fixed term of 3 years and is financed by the ongoing Fusion Research Center Norway (FUSENOW) supported by the Trond
Mohn Research Foundation.

The project aims to design, develop and characterize nano-fabricated targets for use in laser fusion experiments, to increase, and improve the target ignition and utilization. In addition to developing and fabricating the targets, a part of the project will be to build a test setup for target characterization at UiB. The most promising targets fabricated will be brought to the ELI-ALPs European laser-infrastructure at Szeged, Hungary, for characterization.

The postdoctoral position involves tasks such as designing, manufacturing and testing the laser fusion targets. The work will include simulation, experimental work, characterization and data analysis. The modelling and analysing of experimental results will be done in collaboration with the local and international NAPLIFE team. The candidate is expected to take an active part in the target design and the continuous development based on experimental results. The candidate will have the chance to take an active role in the development of the research and steer the target development together with the PI.

At UiB the candidate will have access to several lab-facilities with modern fabrication and characterization equipment. The work will be carried out in an active research environment as a member of Nanophysics group.

We encourage applicants that meet the requirements, with a strong motivation for experimental challenges and good ideas to apply.

The position is announced at Jobbnorge.

Opening seminar for FUSENOW