York Plasma Institute
About the York Plasma Institute
The York Plasma Institute (YPI) in the Physics Department is a collaboration between the University of York and the UK Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC). Its vision is to establish a world-leading interdisciplinary plasma institute for the UK, with an international reputation for fundamental plasma science and related technology, collaborating with industries and universities, and fostering new start-up companies. Our facilities include the main YPI research building, which provides postgraduate teaching facilities, video-conference meeting rooms and our Remote Tokamak Control Room. The YPI Laboratories were officially opened in October 2012, and provide facilities across all three of our plasma science areas.
Industry
We work with industry in two key areas: (1) collaborative research in plasma science for technological or bio-medical applications, and (2) helping industry benefit from the €10Bn ITER construction programme.
ITER is the next step experimental fusion device that is under construction in the South of France. It is a large international project that offers many high technology contracts for industry. Scheduled for completion towards the end of the decade, it is designed to answer the final questions before construction of a demonstration fusion power plant. We work with Culham Centre for Fusion Energy to ensure that UK industry is well-placed to benefit from lucrative ITER contracts.
Low temperature plasmas are used in a wide range of industrial and medical technologies, including: biomedical, plasma TV screens, coatings, packaging, efficient lighting, sterilisation, environmental, computer chip fabrication, etc. Our aim is to work closely with industry to ensure we maximise the impact of our research.
Research
The York Plasma Institute brings together plasma scientists from three fields to exploit synergies:
- Laser-plasma interaction physics research explores inertial confinement fusion energy; simulates the conditions in astrophysical plasmas and provides measurements of plasma opacity required for modelling transport processes in the Sun.
- Magnetic confinement fusion energy research addresses important plasma physics questions for the national fusion programme at Culham Centre for Fusion Energy and ITER.
- Low temperature plasma research develops technological and medical applications of plasmas. Our interest is in conventional, low pressure plasma systems, and the relatively recent discovery of atmospheric pressure plasmas.
Teaching and Training
YPI runs two postgraduate training programmes: an MSc in Fusion Energy and the EPSRC-funded Fusion Doctoral Training Network.
The MSc in Fusion Energy is a one-year taught Masters programme that provides training across fusion energy science and technology, and related plasma science.
The Fusion Doctoral Training Network is a PhD programme that is led by York in collaboration with the Universities of Durham, Liverpool, Manchester and Oxford, and funded by a £2.4m grant from the Research Councils UK Energy Programme. Students begin the course by attending a formal training course, involving lectures and practical courses, before embarking on their research project. This network approach enables training across the broad range of disciplines that come together in fusion, including plasma science, materials science, instrumentation and technology.