I am Marco Muraca, a nuclear engineering student and i have had the possibility to do my master thesis in Culham, at Joint European Torus (JET), which is actually the biggest nuclear fusion experimental device. First of all I want to thanks Fusenet for his found that allows me to enjoy this great experience. During my visit I’ve met a lot of scientists and friends, from whom I’ve increased my knowledge about nuclear fusion and I’ve learned a lot of things about the research field in general. I’ve had also the availability to enjoy a lot of interesting meeting about fusion and physics. It was amazing to work on my thesis and learn new concepts, sometimes sharing my doubts with PhD students and trying to figure it out.
The sharing was probably the most important feeling I’ve felt. I’ve appreciated also the improvement of my programming skills on Python and Matlab, and the understanding of how some measurement diagnostics work. I’ve enjoyed a big availability of papers in a rich JET database, in which there is also a depth explanation of the main codes and physic models used for JET device. The service inside the research centre were very efficient, cleaning, canteen and bathrooms included.
The work I’ve done in the 5 months period since the beginning of March to the end of July, is to understand the role of anomalous transport during the ELM cycles for some specific SHOTs (# 89454 #89453 and #89452). It has been proved also that it is inconsistent to assume a particle velocity pinch (1 m/s) towards the centre of the plasma. To do this they have been compared temporal evolution and profiles of electron density and temperature obtained by JETTO, a code inside the JAMS suite (Jet Application Management System), with experimental profiles, measured by radiometer and high resolution thomson scattering (HRTS). The model used is NCLASS for neoclassical transport and Bohm-Gyro-Bohm for the anomalous one. The edge has been modeled with a fixed width, while ELMs have been reproduced by an enhancements of transport coefficients everytime a normalized pressure gradient (calculated in the simulation step-by-step by MISHKA, a code the solves the MHD stability linear equations) is overcome.
I’ve lived for most of time in Abingdon, a very nice village near the research centre, from which I’ve took lifts by a mobile app or I’ve ride with bike in 20 minutes to reach the centre. Abingdon is a family village with few pubs and gyms to enjoy free time, and with few monuments and parks crossed by Thames. The rest of my time has been spent in Oxford, an amazing town, rich in culture, pubs, gyms, typical restaurants, parks and monuments. This city offers a lot of opportunities to enjoy cultural events, concerts and parties. It is easy to move inside the city with bike, and the research centre can be reached by GWR train, from the station (Park End Street).
- Marco Muraca