Academic Visit On the Occasion of National Science Day To INSTITUTE FOR PLASMA RESEARCH, GANDHINAGAR On 15th February 2025
Objective:
1. Understanding of theory with practical applications thereby bridge gap.
2. Understanding of working environment of research institute.
Benefits of the Academic Visit:
1. Practical Application of Theoretical Knowledge:
The visit provided students with a unique opportunity to observe the practical application of concepts learned in their courses. Experiments like the Tesla Coil and Plasma Globe helped bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and real-world applications in fields such as power systems and electromagnetic fields.
2. Exposure to Cutting-Edge Research in Plasma Science and Technology:
The visit to the Institute for Plasma Research (IPR) exposed students to advanced research in nuclear fusion and plasma technology, helping them understand the role of technology in energy generation and high-energy physics, areas that are highly relevant to modern technological advancements.
3. Understanding Interdisciplinary Connections:
Students learned how diverse fields like computer science, engineering, and information technology play a crucial role in high-tech research. For example, the SCADA-based power monitoring systems tour demonstrated the importance of IT systems in managing large-scale infrastructure and high-energy experiments.
4. Career Inspiration and Motivation:
Visiting research facilities like the ADITYA-U Tokamak and SST-1 Tokamak provided valuable insights into career possibilities in fields such as fusion energy, high-performance computing, and computational physics, which are closely linked to technological innovation.
5. Exposure to International Collaborations and Innovations:
The introduction to ITER, an international nuclear fusion project, gave students a broader perspective on global collaborations. This exposure showcased the potential for global opportunities in technology and research-driven careers.
6. Networking with Experts and Researchers:
The visit allowed students to interact with industry experts and researchers, facilitating connections for potential future internships, academic collaborations, and career guidance.
7. Enhancement of Problem-Solving and Analytical Skills:
Observing advanced research and understanding plasma dynamics and energy management systems enhanced students problem-solving abilities and analytical thinking—skills essential for success in technical fields.
About the Visit:
Visit Schedule: The students and faculty members left Rai Campus at 9:00 AM by bus and reached the Institute for Plasma Research (IPR), Gandhinagar, at 10:30 AM. This visit was organized jointly by the School of Sciences and School of Engineering to provide students with practical exposure to plasma science and technology.
1: Experimental Demonstrations: Students had the opportunity to witness several captivating experiments showcasing different aspects of plasma, including:
• Tesla Coil: Demonstrating wireless power transmission using plasma.
• Plasma Ladder: Visualizing ionized gas behavior under high voltage.
• Plasma Globe: Illustrating electric field effects on ionized gas.
These experiments provided a hands-on learning experience, bridging theoretical knowledge with real-world applications. Additionally, students were introduced to a model of ITER (International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor), the world’s largest nuclear fusion tokamak, situated in France. ITER, meaning “the way” in Latin, is an international nuclear fusion research and engineering megaproject designed to generate energy using the same fusion process as the Sun. It is a collaboration between multiple countries, including USA, India, China, Japan, and the European Union. India joined ITER as a permanent member in 2005.
2: Substation Tour; Students also visited the 132kV Substation, which powers IPR’s research facilities. Experts demonstrated how SCADA-based monitoring systems manage electricity distribution for high-energy experiments. The tour offered insights into power management and infrastructure essential for plasma research.
3: ADITYA-U Tokamak: A key highlight of the visit was the ADITYA-U Tokamak, where students learned about its operational principles and ongoing research initiatives led by scientific officers. ADITYA, meaning “the Sun”, is India’s first indigenously built nuclear fusion tokamak, with a maximum field strength of 1.2 × 10⁴ Gauss produced by 20 Toroidal field coils symmetrically placed to confine plasma.
4: SST-1 Tokamak: Additionally, students had the privilege of exploring the SST-1 Tokamak, a cutting-edge facility based on cryogenics. The SST-1 tokamak represents a new generation of devices aimed at steady-state operation of an advanced ‘D’ shaped plasma configuration. It is designed as a medium-sized tokamak with superconducting magnets. The SST-1 machine was reassembled in January 2012, and by 2015, it produced repeatable plasma discharges up to 500 ms with plasma currents exceeding 75,000 A at a central field of 1.5 T. Notably, SST-1 is the only tokamak in the world that operates with superconducting toroidal field magnets in two-phase helium instead of supercritical helium, demonstrating reduced cold helium consumption.
Lunch and Departure: After an engaging and knowledge-packed tour, the group had lunch at IPR and departed at 2:45 PM. The return journey concluded at 4:30 PM upon reaching Rai Campus.
