SEMINAR: Status and recent research activities at the Australian Plasma Fusion Research Facility

The Australian Plasma Fusion Research Facility (APFRF) is a versatile plasma research facility, located in the Research School of Physics and Engineering within the Australian National University (ANU) in Canberra. Research within the facility aims to build upon Australia’s internationally recognised position of excellence in basic plasma physics and its applications. Our aim is to enable Australian scientists, engineers and industry to tackle the “grand challenge” problems such as that presented by fusion energy research and plasma-processing of materials.

Currently, the Australian Plasma Fusion Research Facility is transitioning its experimental research infrastructure, based around the H-1 heliac and toroidal confinement physics, to a more broadly based program founded on a high-power linear magnetised plasma machine (MAGPIE II). The new device will support a diversity of research interests such as advanced fusion materials, material processing, basic plasma physics and instrumentation development. The infrastructure of the H1 Heliac, which had been operational since 1993, is being re-purposed to support the development of MAGPIE II.

Building on the program established on its smaller predecessor MAGPIE I device (Magnetised Plasma Interaction Experiment), the high-power continuous plasma capability of MAGPIE II will provide extreme conditions that wall materials will be exposed to in next-generation nuclear fusion devices. Research conducted at the ANU aims to provide diagnostic components and scientific data for the international fusion experiment, ITER, as well as contribute to further developing low temperature plasma technology for applications in semiconductors, health and agriculture. The research mission is integrated with our educational goals of postgraduate and undergraduate training and mentoring a new generation of multidisciplinary plasma scientists and engineers.