The phenomenon of turbulence in fusion plasmas plays a decisive role in the development of nuclear fusion power plants. Without turbulence, the energy could be much better contained within the magnetically trapped plasma.
On the other hand, turbulence is helpful for flushing impurities out of the plasma, for example. In addition, thermal energy has to escape from the plasma at some point. If there were no turbulence at all, it would escape in a narrow spatial area. The stress on the wall material there would be so great that it would melt. A certain amount of turbulence is therefore desirable, even if it impairs energy containment. Only turbulence makes it possible to dissipate heat in a controlled and distributed manner to the most heat-resistant part of the wall, the divertor.
Researchers around the world are investigating how turbulence can be controlled and optimally used. Vladimir Zholobenko has now succeeded in predicting this turbulence behavior using simulations. He was awarded the Otto Hahn Medal on June 21, 2023 at the annual meeting of the Max Planck Society in Göttingen. The prize is endowed with 7500 euros.
