Scientist – Radio Frequency Plasma Heating
Devens, MA
SPARC Team – Tokamak Operations /
Full-time /
Hybrid
CFS is looking for an enthusiastic scientist to join the team to operate the SPARC ion cyclotron heating system and study RF physics in SPARC and ARC.
The SPARC tokamak aims to be the first magnetic confinement device to achieve net energy and is predicted to have up to Q=11 in DT, producing up to 140 MW of fusion power. The sole auxiliary heating for SPARC is a 120 MHz, 25 MW (coupled) Ion Cyclotron Resonance Heating (ICRH) system that will launch into SPARC via an array of 14 4-strap ICRH antennas. The novel, solid-state 120 MHz sources are already in production and the antennas have completed final design.
The Scientist – Radio Frequency Plasma Heating will be vital to the successful commissioning and operation of this new system. They will prepare for commissioning via simulations of the antennas and the plasmas and then will be a key part of the team to operate SPARC and to design ARC.
Senior Scientist, Principal Scientist, and Technical Fellow level roles are available depending on the candidate’s experience.
This team member will:
- Coordinate a multi-institutional team of collaborators from universities and national labs
● Simulate the SPARC ICRH antennas to inform their commissioning and operation
● Contribute to the build and test of prototype ICRH antennas and components
● Develop commissioning and operation plans and procedures for the ICRH system
● Inform the implementation of the ICRH control system and operator interfaces
● Commission the SPARC ICRH system into early plasmas
● Operate the SPARC ICRH system during Q>1 and high power DT plasmas
● Study the physics of radio frequency waves in SPARC
● Provide input to ARC design through simulation and modeling efforts
The ideal candidate will have most, if not all, of these requirements:
- PhD in experimental plasma physics or a closely related field
- 2+ years experience (post degree) working with radio frequency heating or current drive systems in fusion plasmas (this may include ion cyclotron, lower hybrid, helicon, or other similar wave systems)
- Experience running experiments on tokamaks, stellarators, or similar plasma confinement devices
- Experience developing hardware for plasma physics experiments
- A drive toward practical solutions to integrated physics and engineering challenges
- Experience with Python
- A desire for active participation in tokamak design and operations
Additional experience and/or qualifications:
- Experience working with COMSOL, CST, or similar finite element tools
- Experience working with AORSA, TORIC, or CQL3D or similar tools
- Perform activities such as typing or sitting for extended periods of time
- Work in a facility that contains industrial hazards including heat, cold, noise, fumes, strong magnets, lead (Pb), high voltage, high current, pressure systems, and cryogenics
- Willingness to travel or work required nights/weekends/on-call occasionally
- #LI-Hybrid
