High-Velocity Dust Impacts on Tungsten Plasma-Facing Materials: A Predictive Multi-Scale Modeling Framework with Experimental Validation

About this position

Pictus PhD Fellowship Programme

Czech Technical University in Prague – International PhD Programme (PICTUS) will recruit 8 students (see Eligibility criteria below) for a full 48-month employment contract and enroll them in a specific PhD course. Candidates should prepare their own research proposal from the List of topics for the 2nd Call .

Application form should be filled and all required documents uploaded using the dedicated electronic form.

helpdesk: pictus@cvut.cz

Guide for Applicants

High-Velocity Dust Impacts on Tungsten Plasma-Facing Materials: A Predictive Multi-Scale Modeling Framework with Experimental Validation

Description:

This project addresses high-velocity dust impacts on tungsten, the primary plasma-facing material in fusion reactors, which cause surface cratering and erosion and thereby endanger the performance and lifetime of these reactors. We will develop a predictive multi-scale modeling framework to understand and mitigate this damage. At the atomic scale, molecular dynamics simulations will capture key impact processes (shock-induced melting, defect formation), illuminating how dust kinetic energy translates into material damage.

Complementary high-speed dust impact experiments on tungsten samples and candidate tungsten alloys will validate the simulations and guide the design of more dust-resistant materials. Finally, we will use machine learning to integrate simulation and experimental data into a predictive model for damage under varied impact conditions. Such integrated approach will yield a tool to predict dust-induced damage in plasma-facing materials, guiding the design of more resilient tungsten components for safer, more efficient fusion energy systems.physics

Secondment opportunities

Imperial College London, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering

https://www.imperial.ac.uk/mechanical-engineering/

Co-supervisor: prof. Daniel Dini, WoS H = 44 ,6500 heterocitations