The LaserFusion consortium is pleased to announce its next specialized training event: a 5-day school on plasma simulation for inertial fusion energy, hosted by the York Plasma Institute (YPI), University of York, United Kingdom, from 1 to 5 February 2027. It follows the schools in Bordeaux and Prague and the bootcamps in Pisa and Jena. This school focuses on the computational side of Inertial Fusion Energy (IFE).
The course combines lectures, seminars and hands-on computing sessions. Participants will learn how numerical simulations support ICF target design and the planning and interpretation of laser–plasma experiments, and will put these skills into practice during guided activities with research codes.
Learning objectives
- Using simulations to support ICF target design
- Simulations in support of laser–plasma experiments
- Hands-on sessions to apply new skills
Techniques covered
- Particle-in-cell (PIC) codes
- Radiation hydrodynamics simulations
- Vlasov–Fokker–Planck (VFP) codes
- Use of machine learning
Programme outline
Participants arrive on Monday 1 February for registration and a welcome buffet at the York Plasma Institute. Tuesday introduces IT, the scope of the school, plasmas and plasma simulation, followed by general coding training and a tour of the YPI laboratories. On Wednesday and Thursday, participants work in small groups on two hands-on activities: PIC simulations with WarpX and radiation-hydrodynamics simulations. These alternate with specialist seminars and a session on machine-learning applications. The school ends on Friday 5 February with a recap, a final exam and a farewell lunch. A social event / gala dinner is planned during the week.
Who should attend
Postgraduate students (MSc and PhD candidates) from the LaserFusion partner institutions, and physics and engineering researchers who want practical skills in plasma simulation for inertial fusion.
Participation
Places are limited to a small number of participants from the eight partner institutions. Information on how to register will be available in November 2026. If you’re interested, contact the key person at your partner institution.
Resources
Flyer
The LaserFusion project is co-funded by the European Union under the Erasmus+ programme (KA2, project ID 2024-1-EL01-KA220-HED-000249775) and is coordinated by the Institute of Plasma Physics & Lasers, Hellenic Mediterranean University. It supports the consortium’s goal of building a skilled European research community in inertial fusion energy.
Contact: laserfusion@hmu.gr