Physics of Fusion Reactors

Course guarantor:

Jan Horáček

Lecturer:

Jan Horáček

Tutor:

Jan Horáček

Supervisor:

Department of Physics

Synopsis:

The course provides doctoral students with a comprehensive overview of the physics of fusion reactors, especially tokamaks, in a broader energy, physical and technological context. The teaching links the basic physics of fusion, the Lawson criterion, magnetic configuration, plasma control, diagnostics, modeling, plasma-wall interaction and the issue of extreme heat flux exhaust.

The emphasis is placed not only on the classical physical principles of fusion plasma, but also on a realistic assessment of the technical limits of future fusion power plants. The course includes a comparison of fusion with other low-emission energy sources, issues of the energy mix, the role of fusion in decarbonization, issues of the fuel cycle, tritium, material damage by neutrons and technological limitations of ITER and DEMO type reactors.

The course also includes an introduction to scientific work in the field: formulation of research questions, critical reading of literature, experimental design, data analysis, presentation of results and the transition of student work to independent scientific reasoning.

Requirements:

Basic knowledge of plasma physics, electromagnetism, thermodynamics.

Syllabus of lectures:

Energy systems, Green Deal and the role of nuclear energy.

Fundamentals of fusion, Lawson criterion and fuel cycles.

Magnetic configuration, superconductive coils.

Control of density, position and shape of plasma.

Edge plasma, plasma-wall interactions, divertor, ELMs and heat removal.

Fusion plasma diagnostics.

Plasma simulation: PIC, kinetic, fluid and MHD models.

Scientific work and professional communication.

Syllabus of tutorials:

Study Objective:

Introduction to the properties of fusion reactors, their limits and engineering problems of their design, diagnostics and plasma control in reactors.

Study materials:

[Horacek2019] J. Horacek, Res.Prof. thesis 2019 , read at least Chapter 1

[Horacek2024] J. Horacek, Habilitation thesis 2024 on innovative heat shields, edge plasma and divertor

[Janky2016] F. Janky, MFF UK PhD thesis 2016 on plasma control and magnetics

[Weinzettl2017] V. Weinzettl, FED 2017 COMPASS diagnostics

[Weinzettl2019] V. Weinzettl, FED 2019 COMPASS diagnostics

Note:

Further information:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1VIBH97Z0Y0b4XYQ28OF8M5pSmVPppuCRj55qgb4YkYw/edit?tab=t.0

Time-table for winter semester 2025/2026:

Time-table is not available yet

Time-table for summer semester 2025/2026:

Time-table is not available yet

The course is a part of the following study plans: