Mathematical frontiers of thermonuclear fusion research
A. Thyagaraja (EURATOM/UKAEA Fusion Association, UK)
A very brief introduction to the area of fusion physics as a possible contributor to the solution to the Energy and Climate Change problems is given. The rest of the talk is devoted to outlining the fascinating (and difficult!) mathematics involved in analysing the behaviour of a turbulent plasma in fusion devices called tokamaks.
The talk will describe in outline some illustrative problems. The solutions to these require a remarkable synergy of subtle analytic theories, high quality, large-scale numerical simulations and elaborate and often extensive (involving international collaborations and many devices) experimental studies to test and build confidence in the theoretical models on offer. The stakes are high since viable fusion power plants are potentially capable of making a major contribution to solving the energy problems of the world safely and economically for the foreseeable future.
This work was funded by the UK EPSRC and EURATOM.