Vår 2025

FYS-3026 Fusion plasma physics - 10 stp

The course is administrated by

Institutt for fysikk og teknologi

Type of course

The course is available as a singular course.The course is also available to exchange students and Fulbright students.

Course overlap

FYS-8026 Fusion plasma physics 8 ects

Course contents

The course content is dynamic and will reflect the interests of the participating students and the ongoing research on fusion plasma physics at the Faculty of Science and Technology. Following a general introduction to the quest for controlled thermonuclear fusion and magnetic confinement, students will learn about waves, instabilities, and collisional as well as fluctuation-induced transport in magnetized plasmas using both kinetic and fluid descriptions. Cross-field transport of particles and heat due to collective motions is an issue of major concern for future fusion reactors and is the main research topic at the department. The course includes computer projects where the students will develop simulation codes and analyse experimental data.

Admission requirements

Admission requirements are a Bachelor's degree in physics or similar education, including specialization in physics worth the equivalent of not less than 80 ECTS credits.

Local admission, application code 9371 - singular courses at Master's level.

Objective of the course

Knowledge - The student can:

describe the principles of fusion processes, energy confinement, power balance, and the basic design of a fusion power reactor
explain the principles of magnetic confinement of plasmas, in particular the Tokamak and Stellarator concepts
describe equilibrium and stability of magnetically confined plasmas
identify causes of particle and heat transport in magnetically confined plasmas
describe the power and particle exhaust and the role of plasma-wall interactions

Skills - The student can:

obtain and interpret relevant new theories about magnetic confinement, heating, stability and transport
analyze and interpret data from experimental measurements and numerical simulations
solve basic problems in fluid and plasma dynamics using analytical and numerical methods

General competence - The student can:

incorporate current events and new scientific information into a critical thinking
communicate theories, problem descriptions and solutions

Language of instruction

The language of instruction is English and all of the syllabus material is in English. Examination questions will be given in English, but may be answered either in English or a Scandinavian language.

Teaching methods

Lectures: 40 hours Exercises: 24 hours