We are proposing a Ph.D. dissertation centred on a TCV diagnostic used to measure plasma density fluctuations, based on the Phase Contrast technique. The study of fluctuations, whether coherent or turbulent, remains an essential component of understanding the basic workings of thermonuclear plasmas. Fluctuations are deemed responsible for the anomalous transport that drives reactor sizes upward in order to keep the fusion reactions going. In spite of decades of investigations, both in fluids and in plasmas, turbulence remains only partly understood. The Tangential Phase Contrast Imaging (TPCI) system on TCV is a state-of-the-art fluctuation diagnostic, which, in its latest incarnation, is able to resolve fluctuations over an unprecedented range, from microscopic to macroscopic scales. In parallel, advances in computational tools and modeling sophistication, at SPC in particular, are opening new avenues for realistic simulations of turbulence, which are then compared to measurements through the mediation of synthetic diagnostics. The successful candidate would be expected to be responsible for the operation and upkeep of the diagnostic, the design and execution of specific experiments on TCV, and data analysis and interpretation. He or she could also become involved in part with the modeling aspect depending on aptitude and interest. A rich palette of subjects can be studied, focusing on particular plasma regimes or regions of the plasma cross section, inhabiting the leading edge of current fusion and plasma-physics research.  

If you want to apply for one of those topics, please follow the procedure indicated on this page.