This course gives an introduction to the main characteristics of an economically attractive and environmentally friendly nuclear fusion reactor. Much attention is given to illustrate the current worldwide fusion energy development program, the scientific and technological issues motivating the main design characteristics (e.g., the choice of magnetic confinement, the superconducting coils, the operating plasma parameters), and to give the student the knowledge required to get familiar with the performance expectations of a fusion reactor and to understand the physics and engineering issues not yet fully solved, on which the scientific international community is focusing.
The course is targeted both at students interested in specifically nuclear problems, for which the course could represent the starting point of a more specific individual path (e.g., master thesis, PhD program) and at students who simply desire to get an overview of the expectations and issues related to the fusion program.

The successful student is expected to acquire an overview of the main parameters characterizing a nuclear fusion reactor. At the end of the course, the student should be able to estimate the parameters of the machine, and to assess its performance in terms of energy gain, economical attractiveness and potential safety issues. In addition, the student should also gain some more specific competences, concerning the fuel cycle, plasma control and reactor diagnostics.

A good level of general physics knowledge is mandatory to successfully attend the lectures, with special focus on electrodynamics, thermodynamics and statistical mechanics. A basic introduction to theoretical (Lagrangian and Hamiltonian) mechanics is not strictly mandatory, but will help the student to understand quickly some of the topics covered in the lectures. An introduction to atomic and nuclear physics is also welcomed, although all the necessary knowledge on the subject will be reviewed during the lectures.
The student should have good familiarity with calculus techniques. An introduction to differential geometry, with emphasis on general curvilinear coordinate systems, is welcomed although not strictly necessary.

Part A: physics
The course provides an introduction to the plasma physics. The following subjects are treated: 1) definition of plasma and its elementary properties (plasm oscillations, charge screening); 2) collisions between charged particles (transport cross section, collision frequency); 3) Orbits of charged particles in electric and magnetic fields (theory of the dritfs, invariance of the magnetic moment); 4) Kinetic theory for a plasma (Vlasov and Fokker-Planck equations). 5) Fluid-dynamics description of a plasma (two-fluid model, plasma waves, MHD model).

Part B: engineering
The lectures will start with a few reminds on the worldwide energy production and consumption trends, with emphasis on the role of nuclear fusion. Then, the physics principles making it possible the energy production from nuclear fusion will be recalled.
After an introduction on the different reactor possible designs, the major focus will concentrate on the Tokamak reactor, illustrating its main components, design and operation issues, and nuclear safety characteristics, with emphasis on the tritium participation to the fuel cycle.
During the second part of the lectures, a few of the questions previously introduced will be analyzed in more detail, e.g., plasma control, impurities control, auxiliary heating, refueling. A fraction of the available time will also be spent to analyze the diagnostic systems (especially Langmuir probes, divertor and magnetic diagnostics), the physics of plasma-wall interactions, and the magnet system of a reactor.
The lectures will close with an overview of the current worldwide tokamak program, with main emphasis on the ITER reactor.

Practical classes will be held approximately once a week during the lectures, starting a one or two weeks after the beginning of the course.

Most of the needed material will be distributed by the teacher during the lectures. The teacher will point to the student additional reference sources whenever appropriate

Written (mandatory) + oral (to be agreed on a case-by-case basis)