Fusion power has the potential to provide the ultimate source of green, low-carbon energy. First Light Fusion is working on a novel approach to inertial confinement fusion (ICF), where a small high-velocity projectile impacts into a target containing fusion fuel. Targets must harness the energy applied by the projectile and focus it within the fuel to create the extreme temperatures and densities required for fusion.
Fusion targets are necessarily highly complex to achieve this. Designing them requires a creative mindset, keen insight into the underlying physics, and technical capability to effectively use optimization methods and analyze performance.
This summer internship within the Target Design team offers an opportunity to learn about and engage with the design process of fusion targets at the cutting edge of ICF research. You will use our in-house hydrodynamic codes to simulate new designs and understand how the complex shock interactions which occur within them affect their performance. You will also use machine-learning optimization tools to refine the design and maximise performance.
Prior experience with coding is essential; you will be working primarily in Python and Fortran. Specific experience with these languages is desirable, however is not required.
During the internship you will:
- Explore, optimize, and analyse the design of novel ICF-relevant fuel targets.
- Simulate fusion targets using in-house hydrodynamic codes.
- Utilise advanced machine learning optimization techniques.
- Develop skills in data analysis and coding in Python/Fortran.
Requirements
- Ideally you will be :
- Have or be studying a degree in a relevant stem subject (physics, engineering, computer science, mathematics, etc.)
- Have experience coding (Python, MATLAB, C, etc.)