I obtained my Bsc degree from Shaanxi University of Science and Technology in 2019 and graduated from the university of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai Astronomical Observatory with an ME Degree in 2022. I decided to pursue my PhD at Fusion CDT because of my love for plasma physics and fusion technology.
My fusion CDT project with the University of Liverpool is research into ultra-fast Langmuir probe measurements in MAST-U edge plasma,under the supervision of Dr Paul Bryant (Liverpool) and Dr Peter Ryan (CCFE). This project is mainly based at the Culham Centre for Fusion Energy (CCFE) with visits to the University of Liverpool to do the prototype testing.
Experiments have shown that the edge region in a fusion plasma is very turbulent, which is not suitable to be measured by conventional Langmuir probe systems due to either a spatial or temporal resolution limitation. My research focuses on investigating the edge plasma parameters with an ultra fast Langmuir probe system, which is based on a field programmable gate array (FPGA). It is currently being developed through a collaboration between UKAEA, University of Liverpool and MIT and is due to end in March 2023. This is expected to provide real-time outputs (~1 MHz temporal resolution) of all three plasma parameters (electron temperature, ion saturation current and floating potential) using a single electrode. I will continue the development of this system and will use diagnostics to investigate fast transport phenomena in the edge plasma region of the MAST-U spherical tokamak. These detailed measurements will enable a better understanding of the role of turbulent processes for heat and particle transport across the scrape-off-layer. In addition, turbulence in the divertor and its impact on detachment will be investigated by implementing the ultra fast Langmuir probe system on divertor target embedded electrodes and on the divertor chamber reciprocator. Real-time control of divertor conditions using the plasma parameter outputs in a feedback loop will also be explored.