Plasma Science and Fusion Center
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
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Undergraduate Student Opportunities
Available UROP and Senior Thesis Topics
An important part of the Plasma Science and Fusion Center's Research activities involves training students and
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| UROP Students have an opportunity to work closely with scientists. |
researchers to meet the physics and engineering challenges ahead. Some of the topics available to undergraduates through the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP) and potential Senior Thesis topics are outlined below. Those with an asterisk (*) are available as UROP topics only.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION about the Plasma Science and Fusion Center, and an introduction to UROP possibilities, contact Paul Rivenberg, x3-8101, NW16-284.
Learn more about MIT's UROP Program
Download UROP Coversheet
Alcator Project
Contact: Jessica Coco , NW17-186, x3-5400.
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ALCATOR C-MOD TOKAMAK PLASMA PHYSICS - Design, construction and implementation of plasma diagnostics, fueling and heating systems, including spectroscopy, laser scattering, particle detection, electrical probes, bolometry, pellet injection and RF heating
- MECHANICAL & ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING DESIGN & TESTING associated with the operation of Alcator C-MOD
- Students are welcome to propose other topics related to toroidal confinement.
Physics Research
Contact: Dr. Paul Woskov, NW16-110, x3-8648
Contact: Dr. Jay Kesner, NW17-213, x3-8662
- Levitated Dipole Experiment: Developing plasma diagnostics, theoretical and computational tools for this project, as well as basic experimental plasma physics.
Contact: Dr. Jan Egedal, NW17-250, x3-8692
- Basic experimental plasma physics on Versatile Toroidal Facility
- Advanced diagnostics
- Experimental Study of Magnetic Reconnection
(top)
Contact: Dr. Min-Chang Lee, NW16-240, x3-5956
- Space plasma heating experiments and diagnoses using Ionospheric Radar Integrated System (IRIS)
- Theory and computer simulation of nonlinear wave propagation and interaction with magnetoplasmas
- Active plasma experiments in space
- Laboratory simulation of space plasma processes with the Versatile Toroidal Facility (VTF)
High-Energy-Density Physics
Contact: Dr. Richard Petrasso, NW17-256, x3-8458
Contact: Dr. ChiKang Li, NW17-262, x3-0934
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The High-Energy-Density Physics (HEDP) Group: Much of our group's research is directed towards achieving fusion ignition. In this context, we perform experiments on imploding fusion capsules in order to understand the dynamics of the implosion process. The student projects relate to either experimental or computational aspects of this work, or to assisting in data collection and analysis. Students with skills in general laboratory work, C++ programming, particle detection, imaging, optics, mechanical design, machining, electronics, nuclear physics, plasma physics or astrophysics are encouraged to apply.
Waves & Beams
Contact: Dr. Michael Shapiro ,
NW16-172, x3-8656
Contact: Dr. Chiping Chen , NW16-258,
x3-8506
Both theoretical and experimental opportunities exist in the following areas:
- Cyclotron Resonance Masers - High power gyrotrons for plasma heating, amplifiers for millimeter wave radar, microwave propagation in waveguide or by mirrors
- High Voltage Sources - Study of novel sources such as FELs, CARMs, relativistic klystrons and magnetron
- Acceleration - High gradient accelerating structures operating at high frequency 7 Beam Physics - modeling of the generation, acceleration, and propagation of intense charged-particle beams
- Nuclear Magnetic Resonance - Microwave instrumentation for high resolution NMR spectrometers
- Intense Charged-Particle Beams - Theory and computer simulation of high-intensity electron and heavy ion beams.
Plasma Technology
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| Graduate students working on Alcator C-Mod. |
Contact: Dr. Paul Woskov, NW16-110, x3-8648 Contact: Dr. Dan Cohn, NW16-106B, x3-5524
- Process diagnostics for waste treatment furnaces
Fusion Technology and Engineering
Contact: Dr. J.V. Minervini, NW22-139, x3-5503
- Acoustic Emission*
- Cryogenics*
- Cryomechanics* and low temperature triboly
- Fiberoptics for monitoring of superconducting magnets
- Magnetic separation for water treatment and other applications
- Thermal-electrical-magnetic behavior of Superconducting Magnets
- High-temperature superconducting magnet technology
- Magnetic refrigeration and other cryogenic engineering topics
- Superconducting magnet development
- Superconductor stability and AC losses
- Materials development, testing & analysis for conductors and magnet support structures (top)
