Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/iacopo-regoli-286415191/?originalSubdomain=it
Contact mail – office
mailto:
mailto:
Ciclo: XXXIX
Curriculum: Aerospace Engineering
Title of the PhD Project: Numerical and Experimental Investigation of Cold Hydrogen Plasma Sources for Fusion and Space Propulsion Applications
Supervisor(s): Prof. Fabrizio Paganucci, Prof. Simone Camarri
In collaboration with: Consorzio RFX, ITER Organization
Abstract of the PhD project:
The ability to efficiently generate and control hydrogen plasmas is central to advancing both fusion energy and space propulsion technologies. This thesis focuses on the study and optimization of cold hydrogen plasma sources, with particular emphasis on radio-frequency inductively coupled plasma (RF ICP) sources and Hollow Cathode sources. These plasma sources are critical for neutral beam injection (NBI) systems, which provide high-energy ions to heat and drive current in fusion plasmas, and for next-generation electric thrusters, which may use hydrogen discharges to sustain the main thruster operation. The work combines experimental diagnostics and numerical modeling to elucidate the physical mechanisms that govern plasma generation, transport, and ionization. Detailed measurements of key plasma parameters—such as electron temperature, density, and plasma potential—are performed under varying operating conditions and compared with simulation results, providing validation for predictive models and deeper insight into plasma behavior. The study demonstrates how careful choice of source geometry and operating parameters can enhance plasma efficiency, stability, and ion production, offering practical guidance for the design of next-generation plasma sources. By integrating experimental observations with numerical analysis, this research provides a foundation for the development of high-performance plasma technologies capable of meeting the demanding requirements of fusion reactors and electric propulsion systems.
International Conferences:
Symposium of Fusion Engineering (SOFE 2025), Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
Workshops and Summer Schools:
Culham Plasma Physics Summer School, Oxford, United Kingdom, 2024
Fusenet Ph.D. Event, Stuttgard, Germany, 2024
JT60-SA International Fusion School, Naka, Japan, 2025
Fusenet Ph.D. Event, Aix-en-Provence, France, 2025
Publications:
I. Regoli et al., “Hollow Cathodes as an Alternative for NBI Sources: Preliminary Results on the ATHENIS Facility”, IEEE Transactions on Plasma Science (submitted for publication)
I. Regoli et al., “Numerical Investigation of the Impact of Conductivity Modelling in Fluid Simulations of RF Drivers for Giant Negative Ion Sources”, Fusion Engineering and Design (submitted for publication)
R. Zagorski, I. Regoli et al., “Effect of Neutral and Ion Temperature in the 2D Fluid Model for the RF-Heated Ion Source SPIDER”, Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion (submitted for publication)
A. Micciani, I. Regoli et al., “Experimental Characterization of Diamond Thermionic Emitters for Innovative Hollow Cathodes”, Journal of Electric Propulsion (submitted for publication)
R. Zagorski, I. Regoli et al., “Assessment of the Optimal Plasma Parameters in SPIDER for Efficient Negative Ion Production”, Journal of Instrumentation (submitted for publication)
R. Zagorski, I. Regoli et al., “Numerical Reconstruction of Langmuir Probe Measurements Obtained from the Negative Ion Source for ITER (SPIDER)”, Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion, DOI: 10.1088/1361-6587/addb72
E. Sartori et al., “Results of the ITER Negative Ion Source Prototype SPIDER Towards Full Beam Extraction”, Nuclear Fusion (submitted for publication)
A. Belpane et al., “Mechanical Design of the Bolometric and Soft-X-Ray Diagnostics for DTT”, Journal of Instrumentation, DOI: 10.1088/1748-0221/20/04/C04009
V. d’Agostino et al., “Preliminary Thermo-Structural Analyses of the New DTT Bolometric Camera”, Fusion Engineering and Design, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fusengdes.2025.114981
A. Cherukulappurath et al., “Comparison of the RF Power Coupling Efficiency for 1.0 and 1.7 MHz at BATMAN Upgrade”, Journal of Physics - Conference series (submitted for publication)
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0006-7396-3467
ResearchGate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Iacopo-Regoli?ev=hdr_xprf