Research topics are related to important questions of high-temperature fusion plasmas and to fundamental problems of laboratory plasmas.
Experiments and computer simulations are carried out to study energy and particle transport in fusion plasmas. Objective is an improved understanding of transport losses in toroidally confined plasmas which are caused by plasma turbulence. Turbulent transport is the key parameter determining the economy of a fusion power plant.
Electromagnetic waves are a versatile tool used for plasma heating and diagnostics. In experiment and simulation the physical properties of wave propagation, mode conversion and absorption are investigated in magnetised and unmagnetised plasmas.
Experiments are carried out on the torsatron TJ-K at IPF and at the large tokamak ASDEX Upgrade of MPI für Plasmaphysik (IPP) in Garching. Furthermore, the linear plasma device FLIPS is used the study of fundamental plasma properties. The activities comprise design and construction of diagnostics, to plan and carry out experimental campaigns and to apply modern data analyses techniques to the date.
The experimental work is accompanied by computer simulations. At IPF the 3-dimensional code IPF-FD3D has been developed which treads electromagnetic waves in plasma. A PIC-Code is used for the interpretation of plasma waves and the plasma sheath, and the plasma-turbulence code GEM3 developed at IPP is used for comparison with turbulence measurements.
Contact for Diploma and Master Theses: M. Ramisch, A. Köhn
