Inertial confinement fusion (ICF) research uses large lasers to compress fuel to achieve fusion. Physics issues related to ICF are researched at the YPI with student projects available as part of the of CDT in Fusion Energy. Experimental work is undertaken at large laser systems based at the Central Laser Facility, the Orion laser and at international facilities (e.g. the US National Ignition Facility, the European Extreme Light Infrastructure). High power laser experiments are relevant to ICF, but also provide valuable insights into the physics of astrophysical processes, high energy density physics and atomic physics. Laser-produced plasmas are used for producing x-ray, and high energy electrons and ions. At the very highest of laser irradiances, quantum electrodynamic effects become important and laser-plasmas produce exotic particles such as positrons. There are projects for CDT students in all of these research areas.
A key partner in our inertial fusion research is the private fusion company First Light Fusion, and we often have PhD projects in collaboration with them.
There are projects for CDT students in all of these research areas.