Partnerships for International Research and Education (PIRE Program)

Partnerships for International Research and Education (PIRE Program)

joint research in damage-resistant materials for nuclear fusion reactors and space ships

Jan 29, 2013

The inside wall of a nuclear fusion reactor and the outside wall of a space ship encounter extreme states and are exposed to plasma states; thus, improvement in the durability of materials for such walls is very important in the design of fusion reactors and space ships. Furthermore, it is critical that conditions for improving the durability of materials to be exposed to the extreme states be established.
This research aims to clarify ways to create materials capable of withstanding thermal loads beyond the threshold in which heretofore solid materials are damaged. The development of such reliable damage-resistant materials for use under extreme environments will lead to the next step.
Science under such extreme states has not been studied so far. Therefore, Osaka University and Purdue University have launched an international project in education for young researchers and graduate students. This project is supported by The National Science Foundation of the U.S. and the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science .
This joint research project aims to identify conditions under which the durability of materials can be improved by using a variety of laser equipment in extreme state experiments. Such experiments will improve the quality of materials through the full use of high-quality lasers.
This project also aims to understand the levels of energy transfer associated with electron collisions and the role of plasma functional layers through experiments and simulations under a variety of extreme conditions, thereby establishing a new academic area in systems modeling for high-durability materials for use under extreme plasma environments.

Abstract

Partnerships for International Research and Education (PIRE Program)
This “Partnerships for International Research and Education (PIRE Program)” is supported by JSPS (Japanese Society for the Promotion of Science) under the international collaboration with NSF (National Science Foundation, U.S.A.).  The purpose is to promote the international collaborative research performed by both excellent Japanese and U.S. scientists and to educate young graduate students and researchers. The applications have been approved by JSPS and NSF submitted from two laboratories, Prof. Hideaki Habara, Department of Electrical, Electric and Information, Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka University and Prof Ahmed Hassanein, Department of Nuclear Engineering, Purdue University. The collaborative research area is “Science on Multiple Phases under Extreme Conditions Appearing in Laser and Magnetic Fusion Reactors”. The approval supports the international collaboration for next 5 years from 2012 to 2017. The kick-off workshop has been performed at Purdue University on Jan. 28, 2013. The Purdue side has included Profs. J. Costello, Dublin City University, Ireland, V. Kozhenin, Ioffe Institute, Russia, and J. Linke, Institute of Energy and Climate Research, Germany. This will form a large international network for Research and Education.

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