Thermal Conductivity Measurements in Warm-Dense and High-Energy-Density Matter (Plasma Strand Project)

Supervisors: Nigel Woolsey (University of York), Martin Gorman (First Light Fusion)

High energy density and warm dense matter science is the study of material properties at extreme pressures such as those that can occur in a fusion experiment, in the cores of Earth-like and larger planets as well as many stellar objects. For example, very steep temperature gradients are common in inertial confinement fusion plasmas, and the physics of thermal conductivity at these extreme conditions remains uncertain; the design of future inertial fusion experiments are also uncertain. Uncertainties associated with heat transport, and other quantities such as viscosity and resistivity in materials at extreme conditions impact at the planetary scale too.

With this project you have the opportunity to use short pulse optical lasers and X-ray free electron lasers (XFEL) to heat and then measure plasma properties within and across material interfaces. This will involve experimental and computational studies of differential heating across an interface to bring two materials into the warm-dense and hot-dense matter phases. Advanced and innovative measurement techniques are required to capture the highly transient nature of the physics, and the design of the techniques and experiments will drive novel developments of physics-based and machine learning computation. We plan to use proton-beam to heat materials and establish steep temperature gradients, and then combine measurements using an XFEL, optical interferometry, polarimeter and spectroscopy methods to watch and interpret how a material responds.

This project will provide opportunities to develop many highly transferable and valuable skills. The research involves the cutting edge studies related to fusion and materials at extreme conditions, the use of novel computational techniques and access to experimental facilities in the UK and abroad. I will likely involve analysing large quantities of simulation and experimental data too.

This research project is funded through an academic-industry EPSRC Prosperity Partnership, Amplifi. We work with First Light Fusion, the worlds leading inertial fusion company, Mach42 a machine learning company, the University of Oxford and Imperial College London to address some of the most pressing challenges facing inertial fusion. Working closely with both industrial and academic colleagues will give you unique experiences in solving real-world problems in a high-tech business environment, while developing your expertise in a range of exciting fundamental physics topics.

The project will be mainly based in York with many opportunities to travel for experiments, some experiments may require a few weeks away from York, collaboration meetings with industrial and academic partners and, of course, conferences.

This project may be compatible with part time study, please contact the project supervisors if you are interested in exploring this.

This project is offered by University of York. For further information please contact Nigel Woolsey (nigel.woolsey@york.ac.uk)

For details on how to apply, please visit: Apply