Strong Field Laser-Plasma Interaction (Magnetic and Inertial Confinement Fusion and Symplectic Geometry)

Speaker: Brent Le Cornu

Affiliation: University of Western Sydney

Time: Monday 16/05/2011 from 11:00 to 12:00

Venue: Access Grid UWS. Presented from Parramatta (EB.1.32), accessible from Campbelltown (26.1.50) and Penrith (Y239).

Abstract: The aim of this talk and overall goal of my thesis is to attack the non-linear, relativistic, and quantum effects in the laser-plasma interactions in confinement fusion schemes, both magnetic and inertial. Firstly, this involves looking at the symplectic nature of plasmas using Hamiltonian dynamics and differential forms. Secondly, we will be dealing with problems in the Standard Model with regard to anomalous observed properties of certain subatomic particles and laser-induced pair production in nuclear fusion schemes.

Growing worldwide demand for energy, coupled with concerns about the long term environmental impact of burning fossil fuels, has made research into nuclear fusion increasingly attractive in recent years. The impressive amount of energy that can be gained from a fusion reaction is evident in the power of stars and Hydrogen bombs. If fusion reactors can be built, they would produce little or no radioactive waste and be immune to the threat of a catastrophic meltdown. They require only light elements like Hydrogen and Hydrogen isotopes for fuel. However, attempts to initiate a controlled fusion reaction that yields a net energy gain have been stymied over the past few decades by numerous technical problems.

The two main approaches to creating a controlled and commercially viable fusion reaction are known as magnetic confinement fusion and inertial confinement fusion (ICF). This talk will focus on the latter; the process of compressing a small pellet of fuel (usually a Deuterium/Tritium mixture, although reactions involving heavier elements such as Boron are possible) using laser beams. Delivering a laser beam of sufficient power over short enough time scales to create a near perfect symmetric compression of the fuel pellet is difficult, although recent developments in other ICF schemes have given researchers cause to be optimistic.

Biography: Brent is a PhD student with the School of Biomedical and Health Sciences