2025-1995504-Post PHD Position-AZURITE Project-Modeling and simulation of plasma formation in t[...]

Université de Limoges; France; Sur place; EUR 35 000 - 45 000; Plein temps

Résumé du poste

A leading French university in Limoges is seeking a postdoctoral researcher in plasma physics. This position focuses on modeling and simulating plasma formation to optimize processes for industrial applications. The ideal candidate should possess a PhD in the relevant field and strong programming skills. Knowledge in numerical simulation and experience with electric arcs will be advantageous. Fluency in both English and French is required, as the work involves collaboration with various partners, including industry stakeholders.

Qualifications

• PhD must be received no later than three years before the beginning of the contract.
• Experience with electric arcs is an advantage.
• Fluency in French and English is essential.

Responsabilités

• Modeling plasma formation using an MHD approach.
• Interacting with PhD students for data exchange.
• Participating in project steering committee meetings.

Connaissances

Programming skills

Knowledge of Unix/Linux operating systems

Mastery of fluid dynamics

Experience in numerical simulation applications

Knowledge of plasmas

Excellent communication skills

Formation

PhD in plasma physics or physics engineering

Outils

Code_Saturne

C/C++/Fortran

Description du poste

Organisation/Company Université de Limoges Department DRH-RECHERCHE Research Field Physics » Other Researcher Profile First Stage Researcher (R1) Positions Postdoc Positions Country France Application Deadline 11 Jan 2026 - 23:59 (Europe/Paris) Type of Contract Temporary Job Status Full-time Offer Starting Date 1 May 2026 Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Not funded by a EU programme Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No

Offer Description

Background of the study:

The post-doctoral position is part of a project funded by the Nouvelle-Aquitaine Region and Safran (“Azurite”), led by the Institute of Research for Ceramics (IRCER, University of Limoges), the Bordeaux Institute of Mechanics and Engineering (I2M) of the Bordeaux National Polytechnic Institute and Safran company. This project aims at developing the digital twin of the deposition processes known as Suspension Plasma Spraying (SPS) which is emerging in the industrial field especially for thermal barriers coatings for aero-engine turbine blades. Basically, the liquid suspension containing the submicron particles of the material to be deposited is injected into a thermal plasma jet (> 10,000K) to be fragmented and evaporated, releasing the individual or agglomerated submicron particles which are then accelerated and melted, impacting and spreading over the part to be coated to form a coating. The aim is to establish the relationship between the operating parameters of the process and the microstructure of the coating, so as to optimize the process, the properties of the coating and to develop new caotings more rapidly. Ultimately, this digital twin will be used to carry out massive simulations to train Artificial Intelligence algorithms.

The development of this twin involves modeling the formation of the plasma by the electric arc using a MagnetoHydoDynamic (MHD) approach (1), the turbulent development of the jet with the injection and hydrodynamic fragmentation of the suspension (2), the treatment of the suspension droplets by the plasma (3), the impact of the molten particles on the substrate and the construction of the deposit (4) as a function of its operating parameters. These models, developed with different codes, exchange data. The post-doctoral work concerns the first model, the modeling of plasma formation using a MagnetoHydoDynamic (MHD) approach in the torch, and the management of data exchanges between models.

Description of the post-doctoral work

The proposed work consists in modeling and simulating the formation of plasma in the torch by the electric arc through the simultaneous resolution of the Navier and Stokes equations coupled with the equations of electromagnetism. This model has been developed at IRCER using the open source CFD code Code Saturne, developed by Electricité de France (EDF) over the last ten years. It includes electrode modeling, and is based on two different approaches: under the assumption of Local Thermodynamic Equilibrium (LTE), the flow is represented by a single temperature, and a non-LTE model, with two temperatures (2T), one for heavy species and one for electrons, derived from the solution of two separate but coupled energy conservation equations. This model will have to be improved and adapted to the torch geometry and plasma gases used by Safran. Different operating conditions will be tested. The post-doc will interact with the PhD students in charge of the other models (2 to 4) to ensure data exchange between models (chaining, coupling).

The work of the post-doc concerns:

1. Improving the 2-temperature (2T) MHD model applied to the Axial3+ torch to increase its predictivity;
2. Adaptation of the 2T MHD model to the ternary plasma gas mixtures: the model, developed with the Code_Saturne open source parallelized code, will have to be adapted to the use of this ternary plasma gas mixture commonly used with this type of torch. This will require defining which species is responsible for ionization/dissociation, in order to include the correct reaction coefficient in the diffusion heat transport term of the 2 conservation equations (electrons and heavies);
3. Study of the influence of various operating parameters and correlation with experimental measurements;
4. Development of a platform for formatting and exchanging simulation data obtained by the post-doc and the three PhD students who are also working on this project and modeling the other parts of the process (treatment of the suspension in the plasma jet, construction of the coating) with the support of SafranTech engineers;
5. Participation in the project steering committee.

The candidate will be required to implement physical models in the Code_Saturne Open Source fluid mechanics/thermal code, and will be based in the IRCER laboratory. He/she should therefore have knowledge/skills in programming, numerical methods and physics. He/she will need to have particularly strong interpersonal skills in order to interact actively with the various players involved in the project including the Safran' company, in French or English.

The candidate will:

• have a PhD in plasma physics or physics enginering
• be familiar with the field of plasma processes in the broadest sense.
• sound knowledge and experience in the field of numerical simulation of gas flows.
• relevant experience in the field of electric arcs will be an advantage.
• good oral and written communication skills.

We are looking for a highly motivated candidate who can work at the interface between laboratories and a company, and work independently. Fluency in English is essential.

Know-how:

• Mastery of physical environments such as fluid dynamics, fluid/structure interaction, thermodynamics....
• Knowledge of Unix/Linux operating systems
• Proficiency in programming languages: C, C++, Fortran, etc.
• Programming skills
• Experience in the development of numerical simulation applications, high-performance computing or finite element methods is a plus.
• Knowledge of plasmas is a plus
• Knowledge of electric arcs is a plus.

Personal skills:

• Autonomy and thoroughness
• Good organizational skills
• Ability to write scientific reports and articles
• Ability to work in a team

Languages ENGLISH Level Good

Languages FRENCH Level Good

Research Field Physics Years of Research Experience 1 - 4

Additional Information

Eligibility criteria

According to French legislation, the applicant must have received a PhD degree no later than three years before the beginning of the contract.

The final decision of recrutment will be made with the approval of authorities owing to the restrictive access of IRCER.