IFS Seminar

 Abstract: Core density collapses (CDC) are observed in Large Helical Device (LHD) experiments

for configurations with intense pellet fueling and unstable ballooning modes, leading

to a strong limitation of the device performance. CDC are a major concern for the design

of future Stellarator reactors, using optimized magnetic configurations characterized by 

a low magnetic shear and a rather small destabilization threshold of ballooning modes. 

Numerical simulations reproducing the CDC are performed dedicated to analyze the 

pre-cursors and nonlinear saturation of the modes leading to the partial collapse of the plasma. 

New experiments performed, dedicated to techniques to avoid the CDC destabilization, are also 

discussed. On going research lines dedicated to analyzing energetic particle losses are also introduced. 

 

Bio: My research career covers different fields of computational plasma Physics: astrophysics, nuclear fusion, industrial and experimental plasmas. I have 17 years of research experience modeling plasma in different regimes, participating as researcher in international projects as well as project PI. May main research lines are:

Astrophysical plasma: Stellar wind interaction with the Hermean magnetospheres, Space weather effects on the habitability and radio emission on planetary magnetospheres, Convective dynamo in solar-like stars and Kepler KOI analysis, laboratory experiments of plasma thrusters and magentized objects (project EXOPLAWIN). 

Nuclear fusion plasma: MHD Stability of stellarator and tokamak devices, stability of Alfven Eigenmodes destabilized by energetic particles. 

Liquid metals: Project VKStars (experimental magnetic dynamos) and PbLi flows in the DLCC blanket module.