NS-CP430M-2009/2010 Plasma Physics: A short overview Wim Goedheer & Hugo de Blank FOM-Instituut voor Plasmafysica Rijnhuizen Nieuwegein ( Course material can be found at: ( (computational plasma physics) (plasma physics course)

NS-CP430M-2009/2010

What is a plasma?- “fourth state” of matter Solid fluid Gas Plasma evaporation ionization Increasing temperature melting A + e  A + + 2e AB + e  A + + B + 2e  AB + + 2e Also reverse reactions: Chemical (non)equilibrium Needed: heating of free electrons - DC or AC (waves) electric fields - Shock waves - Injection of fast particles - ………….

NS-CP430M-2009/2010 Where do we find plasma 1. Astrophysical objects The sun 304 Å) Orion nebula (HUBBLE)

NS-CP430M-2009/2010

Where do we find plasma 2. In the atmosphere Lightning Aurora borealis Sprites, elves and blue jets

NS-CP430M-2009/2010 Where do we find plasma 3. Man made: a) plasma processing of materials Equipment for plasma etching and deposition of thin layers

NS-CP430M-2009/2010 Where do we find plasma 3. Man made: b) Lighting Various types of lamps, operating at high or low pressure

NS-CP430M-2009/2010 Where do we find plasma 3. Man made: c) plasma display panel plasma display panel. [Art]. Retrieved January 31, 2007, from Encyclopædia Britannica Online: Typical size: 100  m

NS-CP430M-2009/2010 Where do we find plasma 3. Man made: d) fusion plasmas A view inside the vacuum vessel of JET, without and with plasma. The light shows recycling zones  2 m

NS-CP430M-2009/2010 Parameters: density and temperature

NS-CP430M-2009/2010 Research at the University of Utrecht: solar cells Plasma deposition of amorphous (a-Si:H) and nanocrystalline (nc-Si:H) thin film solar cells SiH4 + e  SiH3 + H + e (dissociation, creation of radicals) 2SiH3 + surface  2Si + 3H2 (Si sticks to surface, H2 desorbs) (some H in material (10%) passivates dangling bonds

NS-CP430M-2009/ Production of solar cells on flexible foil Helianthos project Collaboration of (a.o.) UU, TU/e, TUDelft, TNO, NUON

NS-CP430M-2009/2010 A promising future application: energy from fusion Required: million K x m -3 Magnetic confinement The Tokamak: a giant transformer Plasma (in vacuumchamber) is secondary winding D + T  He (3.5 MeV) + n (14.1 MeV)

NS-CP430M-2009/2010 Some JET parameters Major radius2.96m Minor radius2.10 x 1.25m Pulseduration60s Toroidal B field3.45T Plasma current3 - 7MA JET: The largest Tokamak in the world (since 1983)

NS-CP430M-2009/2010 Joint project of EU, US, Russia, Japan, India, P.R. China, S.Korea To be built in Cadarache, France ITER: The road to new energy: first plasma 2018 Power production: 500 MW  10x input Some ITER parameters Major radius6.2m Minor radius3.4 x 2m Pulse duration400s Toroidal B field5.3T Plasma current15MA

NS-CP430M-2009/2010 Fusion plasma research at Rijnhuizen Topics:Electron cyclotron heating and current drive Diagnostics: Charge exchange spectroscopy Electron Cyclotron Emission spectroscopy Tokamak Transport: simulations of discharge behaviour Collaborations on ASDEX-Upgrade (Garching (D)) and JET (Culham (GB)) New research programme: Burning plasma in ITER - Control (Instabilities due to fast  particles) - Diagnostics (  particles) - Plasma Surface Interaction and plasma edge instabilities

NS-CP430M-2009/2010 Where low and high temperature plasma meet: plasma-surface interaction in fusion devices Fusion reactions produce helium: must be removed Needed: controlled cool-down of edge plasma: plasma  gas This is established in a special section: divertor Harsh conditions: 1-2x10 4 K, ions m -2 s -1, 10 MWm -2 Cannot be reached in present-day tokamaks  New research line at Rijnhuizen:  MAGNUM-psi

NS-CP430M-2009/2010 …+ Ohmic heating H plasma with B=0 …+ 1 Tesla B field Pilot-psiMagnum-psi

NS-CP430M-2009/2010

What will this course on plasma physics bring you (I) First part of the course (8 lectures)  Basic plasma physics (with emphasis on magnetized plasmas) - properties - particle motion in E and B fields - plasma as a fluid - waves - magneto-hydrodynamics  Ends with midterm examination (open book) Exercises: Mandatory, provide basis for midterm examination The Monday-afternoon timeslot: Will be used if necessary = For explanation / solving problems with exercises = In principle only on demand = Question hour for midterm examination = ………

NS-CP430M-2009/2010 What will this course on plasma physics bring you (II) Second part of the course:  Advanced plasma physics - fusion and tokamak physics - plasma chemistry - capita selecta (dusty plasma, plasma-surface interaction,…)  Exercises - Each item will be accompanied with one or two exercises  Excursion to Rijnhuizen (on a Monday afternoon)  Possible choices - To match the material with your main interest (CP, EP, theory, astrophysics) you have a choice regarding the items for the final (oral) examination. A CP package could for instance consist of fusion basics, plasma chemistry, and diagnostics relevant for plasmachemical applications) Packages will be defined later (depend a.o. on capita selecta)