Position Description
1. General Information
Name of the position
Position is funded by-

Theoretical study targeting laser-driven nuclear
interactions
COFUND, Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA),Horizon Europe, European Union
FR Partner, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique- Bordeaux (CNRS-UBx)
Au Partner, University of New South Wales (UNSW)

Research Host

FR Partner Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique Bordeaux (CNRS-UBx)

PhD awarding institutions:

FR University, Université de Bordeaux, AU University, Universityof New South Wales (UNSW)

Locations-Primary: Bordeaux, France
Secondary: Sydney, Australia

SupervisorsName FR supervisor + name AU supervisor Didier Raffestin (UB),
Dimitri Batani (UB), François Ladouceur (UNSW)Group of discipline

Nuclear engineering, plasma physics, photonics

2. Research options:
Project 1: Theoretical study targeting laser-driven nuclear interactions: focus on energy production
Almost all efforts to realize fusion-based energy generation involve thermally fusing two isotopesof hydrogen – deuterium with tritium (DT fusion). Due to recent advances in laser technology – andin particular chirped pulsed amplification (CPA) – it is now believed that a viable, although difficult,path to fusion can rest on the fusion of hydrogen (H) with boron (B). The HB fusion reaction
possesses the key advantage that it is aneutronic i.e. that it does not release energetic neutrons.
This would virtually eliminate the deleterious environmental impact associated with neutronradiation (activation of material) and overall greatly enhance operational safety and drasticallyreduce production of radioactive waste.
The key to unlock the potential of HB fusion is to move away from thermal equilibrium by providing
to the reactants the kinetic energy necessary for fusion not through thermal motion but throughelectromagnetic field acceleration. At the core of both the theoretical and the simulation models is
the Boltzmann Transport Equation (BTE) which describes the statistical behavior of athermodynamic system out of equilibrium. As it stands, a large body of more or less disparate work
exists but is yet to be integrated into an actual framework that could guide reactor design or
optimise fusion yield. This research project seeks to federate existing theoretical contributions, toimplement them in code when appropriate and to validate them experimentally. This project is inThis project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon Europe research andinnovation programme under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie grant agreement Nº 101081465

experimental collaboration with the Centro de Laseres PUlsados (CLPU), Salamanca, Spain and
HB11 Energy Pty Ltd, Sydney, Australia.
Supervisors: Didier Raffestin (UB), Dimitri Batani (UB), François Ladouceur (UNSW)
Research Fields: Nuclear engineering, plasma physics, photonics
Project 2: Theoretical study of laser-driven nuclear interactions: focus on radio-isotopes production
Almost all efforts to realize fusion-based energy generation involve thermally fusing two isotopesof hydrogen – deuterium with tritium (DT fusion). Due to recent advances in laser technology – andin particular chirped pulsed amplification (CPA) – it is now believed that a viable, although difficult,path to fusion can rest on the fusion of hydrogen (H) with boron (B). The HB fusion reaction
possesses the key advantage that it is aneutronic i.e. that it does not release energetic neutrons
but rather high-energy alpha particles. In addition to nuclear fusion for energy, and on a shortertime scale, such alpha particles could be used for the generation of radioisotopes of medicalinterest.
While petawatt laser systems have already been used for fusion experiments providing interesting
results, a strong need exists to develop theoretical and simulation models needed for optimizing
the process of particle generation and for allowing the development of a future generation ofradioisotope sources of medical interest. As it stands, a large body of more or less disparate work
exists but is yet to be integrated into an actual framework that could guide the experimentaldevelopment. This research project seeks to federate existing theoretical contributions, toimplement them in code when appropriate and to validate them experimentally. This project is incollaboration with the Centro de Laseres PUlsados (CLPU), Salamanca, Spain and HB11 Energy Pty
Ltd, Sydney, Australia.
Supervisors: Didier Raffestin (UB), Dimitri Batani (UB), François Ladouceur (UNSW)
Research Fields: Nuclear engineering, plasma physics, photonics
Project 3: Theoretical study of laser-driven nuclear interactions: Harmonising and generalisingsimulation models

The Monte-Carlo (MC), Particle-in-Cell (PIC) and Magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) methods arecommonly used to tackle the simulation of system out of equilibrium such as those founds inastrophysics. The same approaches can be used to study laser-induced fusion reactions whoseevolution is described by the (relativistic) Boltzmann Transport Equation (BTE). Solving the BTE inthis context is a daunting task as it must take into account: (1) the creation of new atomics species
caused by the fusion reactions, (2) the strength of non-homogenous electromagnetic gradient
fields and (3) potential avalanche effects.
As it stands, a large body of more or less disparate work exists mixing and matching the various
simulation approaches but an actual framework that could guide reactor design and optimise
fusion yield is yet to be assembled. This research project thus aims to federate existing theoretical
This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon Europe research andinnovation programme under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie grant agreement Nº 101081465

contributions, to implement them in code when appropriate and to validate them experimentally.
This project is in collaboration with the Centro de Laseres PUlsados (CLPU), Salamanca, Spain and
HB11 Energy Pty Ltd, Sydney, Australia.
Supervisors: Didier Raffestin (UB), Dimitri Batani (UB), François Ladouceur (UNSW)
Research Fields: Nuclear engineering, plasma physics, photonics

3. Employment Benefits and Conditions

CNRS offers a 36-months full-time work contract (official working time 38.5 h/week).
The remuneration, in line with the European Commission rules for Marie Skłodowska-Curie grantholders, will consist of a gross annual salary of approx. 25 620 EUR gross per year. Of this amount, theestimated net salary to be perceived by the Researcher is approx. 1715 EUR per month. However, thedefinite amount to be received by the Researcher is subject to national tax legislation.

4. PhD enrolment
Successful candidates for this position will be enrolled by the following institutions:

FR University Université de Bordeaux
Admission
Master degree obtained in France or an equivalent qualification awarded following a training course.
More information: https://college-doctoral.u-bordeaux.fr/en/The-doctorate/Pre-requisites

AU University UNSW SydneyAdmission•••

an appropriate UNSW bachelor degree with upper second-class honours; ora completed Masters by Research from UNSW with a substantial research component anddemonstrated capacity for timely completion of a high-quality research thesis; oran equivalent qualification from a tertiary institution as determined by the Faculty Higher
Degree Committee (HDC).

More information: https://www.unsw.edu.au/science/study-with-us/postgraduate-research/doctorof-philosophy-phd

This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon Europe research andinnovation programme under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie grant agreement Nº 101081465