Staff Scientist Plasma Material Interaction
Job Location:
Devens, MA - USA
Yearly Salary:
Posted:
Application Deadline:
Vacancies:
Job Summary
The plasma facing components (PFCs) in SPARC and ARC are the hardware interface between high performance burning plasmas and the entire tokamak. Due to the extreme plasma conditions needed for fusion the PFCs will see heat and particle loads that far exceed most other domains of science and engineering. The Scientist - Plasma Material Interaction (PMI) provides a critical interface between plasma physics materials science and nuclear engineering. The Scientist will be organizationally based in the Plasma Physics Department with designated technical contacts in the Materials Science and Nuclear Engineering Departments. By connecting computational plasma physics models engineering models neutronics models and material models the Scientist will enable predictive modeling of the coupled evolution of PFC materials and the plasma across timescales ranging from seconds to years. The ultimate objective of these coupled workflows is to inform the design and operation of the plasma facing components for ARC a 400MWe fusion power plant to be delivered in the early 2030s. In order to validate and verify the workflows the Scientist will oversee test campaigns at experimental facilities around the world exploring PMI and neutron loading. Additionally the Scientist will have access to Deuterium-Tritium experimental data from the SPARC tokamak and the predictive workflows will be benchmarked using this CFS data. It is expected that through the aforementioned efforts the Scientist will develop a deep understanding of the material degradation associated with plasma loading and fusion neutron irradiation and will represent CFS as a world expert in this domain.
- Build computational workflows to predict PFC material degradation under plasma loading conditions and subsequent impact on plasma performance
- Build computational workflows to predict PFC material degradation under neutron irradiation
- Support ARC design team by running predictive models to inform PFC material lifetime estimates component shaping and consequences of overloading
- Conduct experimental tests of candidate ARC materials at test facilities around the world including PMI heat loads and neutron irradiation
- Leverage SPARC experimental data to benchmark predictive models used for ARC design and optimization
- Develop interpretive models used to infer PFC material state from power plant relevant diagnostics
- Serve as a bridge between the Plasma Physics Department Materials Science Department and Nuclear Engineering Department at CFS
- Manage collaborations with universities national labs and private companies around the world
- Present scientific results at technical conferences and in a peer reviewed publications
- PhD or equivalent in plasma physics materials science nuclear engineering or related with demonstrated research in plasma material interactions
- Working knowledge of plasma material interactions specifically within the context of magnetically confined plasmas (e.g. heat and particle loads sputtering and erosion dust formation PMI diagnostics)
- Working knowledge of multiscale material evolution under plasma and/or neutron loading (e.g. PKA and displacement damage defect and gas-bubble kinetics transmutation effects microstructural evolution surface morphology and resulting thermomechanical property degradation)
- Experience with at least two of the following calculations: ion energy angle distribution (hPIC or equivalent) binary collision approximation (e.g. RustBCA SDTrimSP F-TRIDYN) cluster dynamics or rate theory (Xolotl or equivalent) finite element (e.g. ANSYS MOOSE COMSOL)
- Experience designing and executing test campaigns at plasma-material exposure devices (e.g. Magnum-PSI MPEX) and/or high heat flux facilities (e.g. GLADIS HADES)
- Experience with Python C or similar
- Version control with git or similar
- HPC using Slurm AWS or equivalent
- Excellent writing and technical communication skills
- Experience with PMI-specific codes: (e.g. ERO2.0 WallDYN FESTIM HEAT)
- Knowledge of boundary plasma physics and experience with edge/neutral transport codes (e.g. SOLPS-ITER EMC3-EIRENE)
- Experience with neutron or ion-beam irradiation campaigns and post-irradiation examination (e.g. HFIR ATR)
- Experience with materials characterization (e.g. thermal desorption spectroscopy SEM/TEM)
- Knowledge of irradiation damage metrics (e.g. dpa appm He/dpa) and the limits of fission and ion beam surrogates for fusion neutron spectrum
- Knowledge of tungsten metallurgy processing and joining
- Knowledge of degradation and failure mechanisms in tungsten from plasma and neutron exposure (e.g. recrystallization embrittlement DBTT shift erosion)
- Demonstrated ability to build and maintain coupled multi-code computational workflows
- Experience containerizing codes (eg Docker Apptainer)
- Perform extended activities such as typing standing sitting etc.
- Willingness to travel or work required nights/weekends/on-call occasionally
- 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
Required Experience:
Staff IC
