Divya Tank
University of York
Co-hort year: 2025
I began my academic journey studying theoretical physics at Imperial College London. After three years immersed in ‘pen and paper’ mathematical physics, I spent my final year in the condensed matter theory department developing a molecular dynamics simulation for my master’s project. Alongside an undergraduate research project in the plasma physics department, these experiences inspired me to pursue a career focused on computational modelling and simulation. Since graduating in 2021, I have worked in industry to deepen my understanding of computational physics and simulation methods.
I joined the research and development team for Dassault Systèmes developing the electromagnetic simulation code OPERA-3D. I modelled ‘quenching’, a process in which a superconducting region becomes resistive and launches a heat front that can cause permanent damage, in type II high-temperature superconductors.
In my next role, I entered the world of fusion energy, working for a private ICF fusion company in Oxford. I initially focused on target design, using hydrodynamic simulations paired with machine learning techniques (Gaussian processes and surrogate modelling), to explore high-dimensional parameter spaces and extract key physical insights. I also simulated the coupling between a pulse-powered driver and target, performing multi-dimensional MHD simulations of a magnetically driven, penny-sized projectile undergoing multiple phase transitions and impacting the target within a few centimetres. Later, I worked on high-gain target designs, aiming to identify performative parameter spaces that could scale to power-plant conditions. This involved enhancing target performance by studying and exploiting physical mechanisms that emerge under the extreme temperatures and pressures characteristic of these regimes. Following my interest in computational modelling, I later transitioned to the computational science department. In this role, I focused on experimental validation of the laser module, comparing simulation results with experimental x-ray phase contrast imaging results to benchmark the accuracy and predictive capability of the code.
My interest in ICF physics continued to grow, motivating me to invest in myself as both a computational physicist and problem solver, leading me to pursue a PhD at the University of York. My research aims to better understand the effects of kinetic modelling and non-local heat transport in ICF implosions, using a coupled VFP-hydrodynamic code developed by Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and Imperial College London. Kinetic modelling uses statistical distributions to describe the entire system rather than individual discrete particles, whilst non-local heat transport asks the question, what happens if hot electrons generated from laser heating deposit their energy deeper into the target than previously thought during the implosion.
My supervisors are Dr Chris Ridgers (University of York), and Dr Robbie Scott (Central Laser Facility), in collaboration with the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC).
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