Turbulence optimization in magnetized plasmas

Plasmas are the underlying matter to most of the energetic events that we measure in our universe. Scintillation imaging techniques have transformed our field by enabling direct tracking of wave-particle interactions in plasmas. In 2021, my team made a pioneering contribution by providing the first direct measurements of wave-particle interactions driven by some of the most violent magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) fluctuations in a magnetized plasma. The physics model that we developed gave us the capability to design innovative control tools to minimize the MHD-induced particle transport and loss. TURBO4ENERGY will go a step further – aimed at resolving the wave-particle paradigm in magnetized plasmas. The development of innovative imaging diagnostics will provide, for the first time, simultaneous measurements of the ion and electron fluctuations, offering unprecedented spatio-temporal resolution that will allow us to track the signatures of wave-particle interactions induced by a variety of instabilities. The 2D measurements will provide new insights into currently inaccessible physics phenomena and advance our understanding in magnetized plasmas. By uncovering the driving mechanisms behind these instabilities, we can convert this complex challenge into opportunity: in fusion plasmas, this project will lay the groundwork for full core-edge integration by optimizing the turbulence level of the plasma. Using models verified against experimental data, I will also critically test the wave-particle paradigm in solar flares, bridging fusion and solar plasma physics while contributing to solving the mystery of the heating of the solar corona.Central to this project is an integrated approach, combining innovative instrumentation with state-of-the-art modelling and unconventional plasma actuators. The results of this project will open a new avenue for the design of compact burning plasma devices and establish a unified physics framework for both fusion and solar plasmas.