KTH  in Stockholm is the largest and oldest technical university in Sweden. No less than one-third of Sweden's technical and engineering education capacity at university level is provided by KTH. Education and research spans from natural sciences to all branches of engineering and includes architecture, industrial management and urban planning. There are a total of just over 15,000 first and second level students and more than 1,600 doctoral students. KTH has almost 4,300 employees.

The School of Electrical Engineering conducts research and education in the fields of electrical engineering, systems engineering, information and communications theory, space and fusion plasma physics, and electrical power engineering. 300 people work in this creative and dynamic environment, out of which half are Ph.D. students, many from other countries. Our research projects are carried out in close collaboration with industry partners as well as with research colleagues from Sweden and other countries. The school is responsible for educating civil engineers in electrical engineering and five masters programs which are in great demand and which have a close connection to our main fields.

The position is placed at the Fusion Plasma Physics Laboratory of the KTH School of Electrical Engineering. The Fusion Plasma Physics Laboratory carries out research and development of fusion power as a new sustainable energy source. The research at the Laboratory is an integrated part of the European fusion research programme, which now is focused on ITER www.iter.org/ , a new large research facility under construction in France. Scientists at the Laboratory participate in research at the joint European fusion facility JET in England and other fusion experiments in the European programme. The Laboratory is also responsible for the operation of a smaller fusion research facility EXTRAP T2R located at the KTH Alfvén Laboratory.

 Project description

The research project for the present PhD position is multi-disciplinary encompassing fusion science and technology: plasma physics, materials science, development and application of reactor wall components and plasma diagnostic tools.

The ultimate goal of fusion research is to construct and operate a large-scale power generating system. There are still significant issues to be resolved on the way to a commercial reactor. An important point for detailed investigation is connected to wall materials surrounding hot thermonuclear plasma. The area called Plasma – Wall Interactions (PWI) comprises all processes of mass and energy exchange between the fusion plasma and the wall. It is necessary to develop understanding of PWI and to devise methods to control these processes, because material erosion and consequential plasma contamination limit operation of a fusion reactor. The work involves: (a) study of material modification under plasma impact; (b) development and testing of materials under fusion reactor conditions. The project deals with plasma-facing components which undergo modification caused by high particle fluxes and resulting heat loads. Physical sputtering, chemical erosion, melting, arcing and brittle destruction are major mechanisms responsible for erosion of materials being in contact with hot plasmas.

The aim of the research for this doctoral position is to assess the change in material morphology (i.e. structure and composition) and plasma parameters following the exposure of wall components and special probes to plasma in controlled fusion devices (e.g. TEXTOR, JET) and/or in simulators of PWI. Examples of materials studied today include graphite, carbon fibre composites and heavy metals such as tungsten. The research group at Fusion Plasma Physics Division of KTH actively participates in the European fusion programme.  The work is carried out in close cooperation with partner institutions (material and fusion science laboratories) from many countries. More information on the European programme can be found on the European Fusion Development Agreement (EFDA) and other fusion-related web sites.

Web-links for more information:

Fusion Plasma Physics Laboratory www.kth.se/ees/omskolan/organisation/avdelningar/fpp

ITER project: www.iter.org/

European Fusion development Agreement (EFDA):  ww.efda.org

EFDA-JET fusion facility: ( www.jet.efda.org/ )

EXTRAP T2R experiment at KTH: ( www.kth.se/ees/omskolan/organisation/avdelningar/fpp/research/experiment )

Eligibility and assessment criteria

Highly motivated individuals with a master's degree in Physics, Engineering Physics, Materials Science or a corresponding degree. Good knowledge of physics/chemistry, materials science, spectroscopy and modelling skills is an asset.

Application

Application deadline:  March 12, 2012

Reference number: E-2012-0036

The application should be sent by email to  0036@ee.kth.se .

The application should include

1. Cover letter
2. CV
3. Degree certificate and official transcripts of records
4. Two reference letters
5. Other supporting documents, e.g. degree thesis.

The application should be sent via e-mail as a single pdf document. Write the reference number above in the subject field.

Contact

Marek Rubel, Associate Professor
Phone: 08-790 6093
E-mail: marek.rubel@ee.kth.se .

Trade Union representative

Lars Abrahamsson, SACO
Phone: 08-790 7058
E-mail:  lars.abrahamsson@ee.kth.se