I have recently completed the MSc in fusion energy at York and after a long break from physics it was great to stretch my brain to learn plasma physics and in particular laser plasma physics. I discovered a great research community in the york plasma institute and had the privilege to do my masters thesis under Professor Chris Ridgers simulating laser stimulated magnetic fields in gas jets.
Now as part of the Fusion CDT I will be working with Dr Chris Murphy on ICF relevant laser plasma interactions with exotic pulses. These exotic pulses are shaped to give orbital angular momentum to the wavefront which opens rich opportunities to study their effect on laser plasma instabilities and x-ray production from Laser-Wakefield electron acceleration. I will be using state of the art simulation tech simulation techniques alongside experiments at international laser facilities in order to better understand the potential benefits of these exotic pulses.