Principal Scientist - Radio Frequency Plasma Heating

CFS is looking for an enthusiastic experimental RF Scientist/Engineer to join the team to operate the SPARC ion cyclotron heating system and study RF physics/engineering 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 and the ICRH antennas are already in production.

The Ion Cyclotron Discharge Cleaning (ICDC) System provides one of several mechanisms to clean and condition the exposed surfaces within the Tokamak confinement vessel, including boronization of plasma facing components. The ICDC System is similar in design but wholly distinct from the ICRF, with its own transmitter, transmission network, and antennas.

The Scientist – Radio Frequency Plasma Heating will be vital to the successful commissioning and operation of both the ICRH and ICDC systems. 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.