Physics of Plasmas and Fusion

Overview

The Physics of Plasma and Fusion Master's degree, generalist in the field of plasma physics, offers a vast choice among many themes, thus allowing students to build step by step and in full knowledge of the facts their professional project (PhD thesis or research and development in the field of industry).

The teaching covers the physics of natural plasmas, process plasmas (including industrial plasmas), thermonuclear plasmas and plasmas resulting from laser-matter interaction. These are at the center of many applications such as satellite propulsion and navigation, space instrumentation and communications, atmospheric re-entry, materials engineering, environmental protection (treatment of gaseous and liquid effluents, reduction of CO2 emissions), bio-medicine and the development of therapeutic devices, agriculture and agronomy, microelectronics, acceleration of charged particles and new plasma gas pedals, radiation and energy sources, lasers, techniques for heating and confining plasmas, particularly in the context of thermonuclear magnetic or inertial fusion.

Numerous very Large Facilities and Instruments are involved such as the ITER Tokamak in Cadarache, the Laser MegaJoule (LMJ) in Bordeaux, the Apollon and Petal Lasers, and international space missions such as Solar Orbiter, Parker Solar Probe and MMS (Magnetospheric Multiscale Mission).

The courses are approached in a theoretical and fundamental way, but also from the point of view of experimentation, numerical simulation and modeling. They allow students to acquire expertise in different multidisciplinary fields (plasma/health, plasma/environment, plasma/energy, plasma/space, etc.), but also to be introduced to the most current innovative technologies.

Carreers

• The majority of the students of the Master 2 Physics of Plasmas and Fusion (about 90%) continue their curriculum by doing a PhD thesis. However, it is possible to be recruited in a large research and development company at the end of the Master's program.
• Graduates can aspire to careers as researchers, teacher-researchers or engineers in fundamental or applied research in university laboratories, engineering schools, major public bodies such as CNRS, CEA, ONERA, CNES or companies with a strong R&D component (Alcatel, Air Liquide, Thalès, EDF, IBM, PSA, Renault, Saint-Gobain, EADS, Safran, Snecma....).