Checking date: 12/02/2024


Course: 2024/2025

Plasma physics and technology
(18335)
Bachelor in Engineering Physics (Plan: 434 - Estudio: 363)


Coordinating teacher: SANCHEZ FERNANDEZ, LUIS RAUL

Department assigned to the subject: Physics Department

Type: Electives
ECTS Credits: 6.0 ECTS

Course:
Semester:




Requirements (Subjects that are assumed to be known)
Physics I. Physics II. Calculus I. Calculus II. Differential equations and transforms. Electromagnetism and optics. Statistical Physics.
Objectives
To understand the basics of plasmas, the fourth state of matter. To understand the behaviour of individual charged particles and fully ionized plasmas in the presence of magnetic and electric fields. To be able to use the main mathematical models used to describe the behaviour of plasmas. To be aware of the main technological applications of plasmas.
Skills and learning outcomes
CB1. Students have demonstrated possession and understanding of knowledge in an area of study that builds on the foundation of general secondary education, and is usually at a level that, while relying on advanced textbooks, also includes some aspects that involve knowledge from the cutting edge of their field of study. CB2. Students are able to apply their knowledge to their work or vocation in a professional manner and possess the competences usually demonstrated through the development and defence of arguments and problem solving within their field of study. CB3. Students have the ability to gather and interpret relevant data (usually within their field of study) in order to make judgements which include reflection on relevant social, scientific or ethical issues. CB4. Students should be able to communicate information, ideas, problems and solutions to both specialist and non-specialist audiences. CB5. Students will have developed the learning skills necessary to undertake further study with a high degree of autonomy. CG2. Learn new methods and technologies from basic scientific and technical knowledge, and being able to adapt to new situations. CG3. Solve problems with initiative, decision making, creativity, and communicate and transmit knowledge, skills and abilities, understanding the ethical, social and professional responsibility of the engineering activity. Capacity for leadership, innovation and entrepreneurial spirit. CG4. Solve mathematical, physical, chemical, biological and technological problems that may arise within the framework of the applications of quantum technologies, nanotechnology, biology, micro- and nano-electronics and photonics in various fields of engineering. CG5. Use the theoretical and practical knowledge acquired in the definition, approach and resolution of problems in the framework of the exercise of their profession. CG6. Develop new products and services based on the use and exploitation of new technologies related to physical engineering. CG7. Undertake further specialized studies, both in physics and in the various branches of engineering. CE20. Understand and address the general problems of the field of Energy, as well as the scientific and technological foundations of its generation, conversion, transport and storage. CT1. Work in multidisciplinary and international teams as well as organize and plan work making the right decisions based on available information, gathering and interpreting relevant data to make judgments and critical thinking within the area of study. RA1. To have acquired sufficient knowledge and proved a sufficiently deep comprehension of the basic principles, both theoretical and practical, and methodology of the more important fields in science and technology as to be able to work successfully in them. RA2. To be able, using arguments, strategies and procedures developed by themselves, to apply their knowledge and abilities to the successful solution of complex technological problems that require creating and innovative thinking. RA3. To be able to search for, collect and interpret relevant information and data to back up their conclusions including, whenever needed, the consideration of any social, scientific and ethical aspects relevant in their field of study. RA4. To be able to successfully manage themselves in the complex situations that might arise in their academic or professional fields of study and that might require the development of novel approaches or solutions. RA6. To be aware of their own shortcomings and formative needs in their field of specialty, and to be able to plan and organize their own training with a high degree of independence.
Description of contents: programme
1. Basics of plasmas. Definition. Debye length. Plasma frequency. Types of plasmas. 2. Charge motion in an electromagnetic field. Cyclotron motion. Drifts. Magnetic momentum and trapping. 3. Collisions in a plasma. Coulomb binary collisions. 4. Fluid description of a plasma. Magneto-hydrodynamics. Equilibrium and stability. 5. Plasma waves. Waves in a cold magnetized plasma. Plasma dielectric tensor. 6. Kinetic description of a plasma. Vlasov equation. Landau damping. Fokker-Planck equation. Fluid limit 7. Introduction to magnetically confined plasma for fusion energy generation. Tokamaks and stellarators. 8. Introduction to inertial plasmas for fusion energy generation. Lasers and plasmas. 9. Other tecnological applications of plasmas. Plasma propulsion. Industrial plasmas
Learning activities and methodology
AF1. THEORETICAL-PRACTICAL CLASSES. Knowledge and concepts students mustacquire. Receive course notes and will have basic reference texts.Students partake in exercises to resolve practical problems AF2. TUTORING SESSIONS. Individualized attendance (individual tutoring) or in-group (group tutoring) for students with a teacher.Subjects with 6 credits have 4 hours of tutoring/ 100% on- site attendance. AF3. STUDENT INDIVIDUAL WORK OR GROUP WORK.Subjects with 6 credits have 98 hours/0% on-site. AF8. WORKSHOPS AND LABORATORY SESSIONS. Subjects with 3 credits have 4 hours with 100% on-site instruction. Subjects with 6 credits have 8 hours/100% on-site instruction. AF9. FINAL EXAM. Global assessment of knowledge, skills and capacities acquired throughout the course. It entails 4 hours/100% on-site AF8. WORKSHOPS AND LABORATORY SESSIONS. Subjects with 3 credits have 4 hours with 100% on-site instruction. Subjects with 6 credits have 8 hours/100% on-site instruction. MD1. THEORY CLASS. Classroom presentations by the teacher with IT and audiovisual support in which the subject`s main concepts are developed, while providing material and bibliography to complement student learning MD2. PRACTICAL CLASS. Resolution of practical cases and problem, posed by the teacher, and carried out individually or in a group MD3. TUTORING SESSIONS. Individualized attendance (individual tutoring sessions) or in-group (group tutoring sessions) for students with teacher as tutor. Subjects with 6 credits have 4 hours of tutoring/100% on-site. MD6. LABORATORY PRACTICAL SESSIONS. Applied/experimental learning/teaching in workshops and laboratories under the tutor's supervision.
Assessment System
  • % end-of-term-examination 60
  • % of continuous assessment (assigments, laboratory, practicals...) 40

Calendar of Continuous assessment


Extraordinary call: regulations
Basic Bibliography
  • Francis F. Chen. Introduction to Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion. Springer. 2016
Additional Bibliography
  • CM Braams and PE Stott. Nuclear Fusion: half a century of magnetic confinement fusion research. Institute of Physics. 2002
  • Dan Goebel and Ira Katz. Fundamentals of electric propulsion: ion and hall thrusters. Wiley. 2008
  • Robert Goldston and Paul Rutherford. Introduction to Plasma Physics. Institute of Physics. 1995
  • S Eliezer and Y Eliezer. The fourth state of matter. Institute of Physics. 2001
  • Susanne Pfalzner. An introduction to inertial confinement fusion. Taylor & Frances. 2006

The course syllabus may change due academic events or other reasons.