NPRE 421
Nuclear, Plasma, and Radiological Engineering
NPRE 421
COURSE OUTLINE
Course Number: NPRE 421/ECE421/PHYS479
Title: Plasma and Fusion Science
Catalogue Description: Provides an introduction to the physics of plasmas, including particle and fluid descriptions, waves, collisions, stability, and confinement, with applications to controlled thermonuclear fusion rectors, problems in fusion engineering, and astrophysics. Same as ECE 421 and PHYS 479. For engineering or physical science majors with junior standing.
| Principle Topics Covered | Hours (Approximate) |
|---|---|
| Introduction | 1 |
Future energy needs and fusion's role |
|
Relation to astrophyics |
|
| Basic Plasma Physics | 6 |
Maxwell's equations |
|
Debye length |
|
Plasma parameter |
|
Plasma sheaths |
|
Conversation laws |
|
Plasmas as fluids |
|
Kinetic descriptions and distribution functions |
|
Waves in Plasmas |
|
Plasma oscillations |
|
Electron plasma waves |
|
Sound waves |
|
Ion waves |
|
Electromagnetic waves in plasmas |
|
Hydromagnetic waves |
|
Landau damping |
|
Light-plasmas wave interactions |
|
| Collisions and Transport | 5 |
Ionization/excitation/charge exchange |
|
Reaction rates and cross-sections |
|
Charged particle scattering |
|
Radiation emission |
|
Diffusion and resistivity |
|
Diffusion current and confinement losses |
|
| Equilibrium and Stability | 5 |
Ideal MHD |
|
Stable and unstable equilibrium |
|
Types of instabilities |
|
Fluid instabilities |
|
Two-stream instability |
|
Normal mode analysis and minimum energy principle |
|
Kruskal-Schwarzschild instability |
|
Turbulence |
|
| Fusion Energy Balances | 5 |
Particle and energy confinement time |
|
Radiation losses |
|
Fusion product slowing and heating |
|
Particle and energy balance |
|
Breakeven, Lawson criterion |
|
Ignition criterion and burn physics |
|
Spark ignition and burn propagation |
|
| Plasma Confinement Approaches | 5 |
N-tau-T confinement plots |
|
Open magnetic systems |
|
Closed magnetic systems |
|
Electrostatic systems |
|
Inertial confinement |
|
N-tau-T comparisons of approaches |
|
| Fusion Engineering | 6 |
First wall, sputtering and cooling |
|
Divertor physics/engineering |
|
Blanket physics/engineering |
|
Radiation damage and material activation |
|
Heating, fueling and ash removal |
|
Ash removal |
|
Energy extraction and conversion |
|
Plasma configuration and thermal instability control |
|
Economics, safety and environmental considerations |
|
Safety and environmental compatibility |
|
| Other Topics of Interest: to be selected from | 4 |
Current fusion energy status: ITER, IEC's, NIF, etc. |
|
Inertial fusion compression hydrodynamics |
|
X-ray generation and indirect drive inertial fusion |
|
Inertial fusion drivers: lasers and ion accelerators |
|
Inertial fusion target technology |
|
Multi-dimensional MHD - Grad-Shafranov Equation |
|
Transport scaling approaches in magnetic systems |
|
Fusion-fission hydrids |
|
Kinetic theory |
|
BGK and van Kampen modes |
|
Nonlinear waves |
|
Collisionless shock waves |
|
Plasma turbulence |
|
Astrophysical plasmas |
|
Inertial fusion and laboratory astrophyics |
|
| Exams | 2 |
| Total | 44 |
Basic Texts:
Required:
- "Principles of Fusion Energy", A.A. Harms, G.H. Miley, K.F. Schoepf and D.R. Kingdon. World Press, 2000, and/or "Introduction to Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion", 2nd Ed. F.F. Chen, Plenum Press, NY, 1984.
- M.M. Elwakil "Nuclear Power Engineering"
Required:
- "Plasma Physics for Nuclear Fusion", Kenro Mujamoto, MIT Press, 1989
Prerequisites:Engineering or physical science majors with junior standing.
Purpose of Course: The objective of this course is to provide a thorough introduction to the principles of high-temperature plasma physics and fusion systems. It is a central course for students in the Plasma and Fusion Science and Engineering option in Nuclear Engineering. Along with NPRE 423, "Plasma Laboratory" and NPRE 429, "Plasma Engineering," NPRE 421 forms the core of this option. It is also an important preparatory course for students majoring in physics who wish to pursue careers in space science or astrophysics. In addition, this course will serve graduate students in Nuclear Engineering who wish to pursue a fusion related thesis topic and graduate students in Physics and Astronomy who wish to pursue research in accretion physics, pulsars, the interstellar medium, or the intergalactic medium. It is a pre-requisite for the graduate-level Nuclear Engineering courses in fusion.
Instructor: George Miley
Credit: 3 Semester Hours or 3/4 Unit
Meeting hours per week: 3
Class registration opacity: 30
Semesters course offered: REFER TO MASTER LISTING
Other notes: There is no appreciable overlap with any other courses in Nuclear Engineering, Physics, or Electrical and Computer Engineering or with courses in other units.
Course last revised: May 2007
© 2009 The Board of Trustees at the University of Illinois