Overview

The Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL) of Princeton University invites applications for a postdoctoral physicist position, working on the upgraded Lithium Tokamak Experiment (LTX-β). LTX-β is a medium scale, low aspect ratio tokamak designed to explore the modifications to edge and core plasmas in regimes of very low wall recycling using solid and liquefied lithium plasma-facing components (PFCs). LTX-β is currently the only experiment in the world capable of operating with a full liquid lithium wall. LTX-β systems, aside from the liquid wall capability, include 700 kW of neutral beam heating, and ECH for startup. Diagnostics available on LTX include Thomson scattering with 16 core and 5 edge-localized channels, 1 mm microwave interferometry, four-channel microwave reflectometry for time-resolved density and density fluctuation profiles (a UCLA effort), extensive spectroscopy for the core and edge plasmas, as well as the determination of global recycling at the lithium-coated wall, and magnetics for equilibrium reconstruction and fluctuation analysis. Edge plasma diagnostics include arrays of Langmuir probes, a movable Langmuir probe, a retarding field energy analyzer, extensive edge imaging and spectroscopy, through a collaboration with Lawrence Livermore National Lab, and a suite of Lyman-α and H-α detectors to characterize plasma recycling. In addition, a surface exposure probe (developed jointly with the University of Tennessee at Knoxville) is available for exposing PFC samples to LTX-β plasmas and transferring them in vacuo to a facility with high-resolution surface science capabilities (operated in collaboration with Princeton University). The LTX-β research group also has active collaborations with Oak Ridge National Lab, the University of Wisconsin, the University of Washington, and a private company (LiWall Fusion).

Responsibilities

• Experimental physics - characterize the plasma edge in LTX-β
• Characterize the unique low-recycling scrape-off layer in LTX-β, with attention to recycling analysis using the available diagnostics and numerical modeling codes such as DEGAS2.
• Expected to participate in tokamak operations, as well as data acquisition and analysis, but will have considerable freedom to develop his or her own line of research on LTX.

Qualifications

Education and Experience: 

• PhD in Plasma Pysics or equivalent

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: 

• Experimental plasma physics, data analysis, knowledge of tokamaks physics helpful
• Expertise in surface analysis and familiarity with technologies for PFC conditioning with lithium are also desirable.

 

 

 

Princeton University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. EEO IS THE LAW

Salary GradeRES, 01Standard Weekly Hours40.00Eligible for OvertimeNoBenefits EligibleYesEssential Services Personnel (see policy for detail)NoEstimated Appointment End Date12/2/2022Physical Capacity Exam RequiredNoValid Driver's License RequiredNo