Plasma Physics and Controlled Nuclear Fusion

The course is suitable as the first plasma physics course or an add-on course for senior undergraduate students and graduate students.

The primary objective of the course is to present the fundamentals of plasma physics particularly highlighting high-temperature plasma physics and its applications to controlled fusion. The course begins with an overview of plasma phenomena and their applications. The lectures cover Coulomb collisions, single particle motion in magnetic field, magnetic traps, principles of controlled fusion, plasma heating and diagnostics.

The students will acquire and consolidate skills and competence corresponding to the beginning of the first semester of the plasma physics course at Peter the Great Polytechnic University.

The cultural program includes:

• Boat city tour for students to get acquainted with the beauty of the city.
• Excursion to the Hermitage, one of the world’s largest and oldest museums of fine art.
• Visit to the “Baltika” Brewery/"Coca-Cola" factory where students can learn about the construction and logistic peculiarities of the plant.
• Picnic at the seashore of the Gulf of Finland where students can enjoy Russian style barbecue.
• Excursion to Pushkin, former tzar summer residence famous for its palace and park ensemble. Students will visit the outstanding Catherine Palace with glorious Amber room (optional, for extra price).
• Excursion to Peterhof  palace-ensemble with picturesque gardens, a countless number of fountains and giant golden statues (optional, for extra price).

- Knowledge of Calculus and General Physics corresponding to the first two years of a Bachelor's degree program in physics, mathematics, technology etc.

- Good command of English. All classes and extracurricular activities are conducted in English. Knowledge of the Russian language is not required.

- Applicants are expected to have at least 2 years of University level studies. 

4 ECTS
The course is intended as the first plasma physics course however it is also suitable for senior undergraduate students and graduate students.

• Plasma phenomena on Earth and in the Universe; historical overview of plasma physics; contemporary research areas and technological applications of plasmas; studies of controlled nuclear fusion. 
• Definition of plasma; quasineutrality, Debye length, plasma frequency. 
• Coulomb collisions, Rutherford’s formula, Coulomb logarithm 
• Motion of a single charged particle in magnetic field; Larmor radius, drifts, magnetic traps. 
• Controlled nuclear fusion; Lawson criterion and ignition criterion. 
• Principles of plasma heating with electromagnetic waves and neutral beam injection. 
• Principles of plasma diagnostics, active and passive measurements, line-integral data, Doppler broadening.

Totally 38 academic hours:

• 12 academic hours of lectures (6 lectures);
• 18 academic hours of practice, demonstrations and visit to tokamak laboratories;
• 2 academic hours for written examination;
• 6 academic hours of Survival Russian.