Tijs Wijkamp

Source: https://www.tue.nl/en/education/student-stories-master-science-and-technology-of-nuclear-fusion/tijs-wijkamp Parent: https://www.tue.nl/en/education/graduate-school

Master Science and Technology of Nuclear Fusion

Tijs Wijkamp

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Student Stories Master - Student Stories Master Science and Technology of Nuclear Fusion

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"I’M PROTECTING FUSION REACTORS BY DETECTING RUNAWAY ELECTRONS"

I’m working on detecting runaway electrons in fusion plasmas through the visible light they emit. These electrons move at relativistic speeds, fast enough to severely damage reactor walls. Understanding their behavior will help in designing techniques that prevent this, such as injecting impurities to slow the electrons down. My work helps bridge the gap between the models and the experimental results.  Our results at the Lausanne fusion reactor sparked much enthusiasm, and the reactor’s tight schedule was even opened up for more experiments.

The TU/e fusion program gives a great overview of the current fusion research field and its challenges, and is very well connected. Because the program is multidisciplinary, I learned to see fusion problems from different angles while still developing my own specific expertise. If I decide to pursue a PhD, Eindhoven would be an excellent home base.