Computational physicist with extensive experience of modeling fusion-relevant divertor plasmas
I am a postdoctoral researcher at the Fusion Energy Sciences group of Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), CA, USA, focusing on scrape-off layer physics and divertor modeling. I graduated Aalto University, Finland, in 2022 with a PhD in Plasma Physics and Fusion Energy Technology. My doctoral thesis work has seen me involved in both the US and European fusion programs. I spent 12-months as a Fulbright grantee at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and the DIII-D national fusion facility at General Atomics in San Diego, CA, USA in 2019-2020. As part of my investigations of molecular processes in the fusion plasma edge I have been using the kinetic neutral code EIRENE and been part of EUROfusion Theory, Simulation, Validation and Verification task "Neutral Gas Dynamics in the Edge".
Experience and education
2022 - Present
Postdoctoral researcher, Fusion energy sciences
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, CA, USA
Divertor modeling and design using the multi-fluid edge code UEDGE
Previous positions
06/2018 - 08/2022
Doctoral candidate, Fusion and Plasma Physics Group
Aalto University, Espoo, Finland
Predictive modeling of fusion plasmas using the multi-fluid code UEDGE
Development of a fluid molecular model and synthetic diagnostics in UEDGE
Modeling molecular effects in the scrape-off layer using the kinetic neutral code Eirene, the collisional-radiative model Yacora, and the self-developed collisional-radiative “CRUMPET” Python tool
Collaboration with the EUROfusion Theory, Simulation, Validation and Verification task “Neutral Gas Dynamics in the Edge”
07/2019 - 07/2022
Academic Cooperation Participant, Fusion Energy Sciences Program
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, CA, US
12-month on-site research as a Fulbright Grantee 07/2019–07/2020
Development of Python and molecular physics modules for the plasma-edge code UEDGE
Collaboration with the National Fusion Facility DIII–D at General Atomics
05/2017 - 05/2018
Research assistant, Fusion and Plasma Physics Group
Aalto University, Espoo, Finland
Summer intern (2015), part-time work (2015-2018), and Master’s thesis (2018)
Plasma-edge fluid modelling and a combined two months of international research visits to the National Fusion Facility DIII–D at General Atomics and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
05/2014 - 08/2014
Research assistant, Positron physics and defect spectroscopy
Aalto University, Espoo, Finland
Summer internship writing Bachelor’s thesis
Experimental positron annihilation spectroscopy measurements
05/2013 - 08/2013
Analysis apprentice
Mervento Oy, Vaasa, Finland
Verification of the Mervento 3.6MW wind turbine by IEC standards using the LMS Samtech Samcef software, including two weeks of training at Samtech Barcelona, Spain
06/2010 - 08/2010
Deputy editor-in-chief
Österbottniska Posten, Vaasa, Finland
Editing the paper and online papers
Moderating the online forum
06/2008 - 07/2008
Metalwork apprentice
Mapromec, Mustasaari, Finland
Pressure polishing tappet rollers
Operated industrial machinery
Academic degrees
09/2022
Doctor of Science (Technology), Applied Physics
Fusion and plasma Physics Group, Aalto University, Espoo, Finland
Dissertation “Role of hydrogenic molecules in fusion-relevant divertor plasmas” supervised by Prof. Mathias Groth.
05/2018
Master of Science (with honors), Engineering Physics
Fusion and plasma Physics Group, Aalto University, Espoo, Finland
Thesis “UEDGE-predicted impact of molecules on plasma detachment in DIII-D” supervised by Prof. Mathias Groth.
08/2016
Bachelor of Science, Engineering Physics
Positron physics and defect spectroscopy, Aalto University, Espoo, Finland
Thesis “Defekter i Si1-xCx och Ge1-ySny” instructed by Dr. Natalie Segercrantz and supervised by Prof. Filip Tuomisto.
Other education, traning, qualifications, and skills
01/2016
Radiation safety officer
Säteilyturvakeskus, Espoo, Finland
02/2016 - 06/2016
Erasmus+ program participant
Technische Universität Graz, Graz, Austria
Personal information
Personal details
Citizenship: Finland
Place of birth: Vaasa, Finland
Gender: Male
Languages
Swedish: Mother Tongue
English: Bilingual proficiency
Finnish: Bilingual proficiency
German: Elementary proficiency
Research funding, leadership, and supervision
Personal funding
2019-2020
Fulbright Finland Foundation
Graduate Student Grant, Finland
2019-2020
The Walter Ahlström Foundation
Graduate Grant, Finland
2019-2020
Svensk-Österbottniska Samfundet
Travel Grant, Finland
2019-2020
Svenska Tekniska Vetenskapsakademien i Finland
Graduate Grant, Finland
2019-2020
Foundation for Aalto University Science and Technology
Travel Grant, Finland
2019-2020
The Waldemar von Frenckell Foundation
Graduate Grant, Finland
2017-2018
Fortum Foundation
Travel grant, Finland
Merits in teaching and pedagogical competence
Involvement in implementation of courses
2016-2022
Laboratory Assistant
Aalto University, Espoo, Finland
Seven Swedish physics courses (BSc, á 5 ECTS)
Three Finnish physics courses (BSc, á 5 ECTS)
2018-2019
Teaching Assistant
Aalto University, Espoo, Finland
Fusion Energy Technology (MSc, 5 ECTS)
2014-2017
Teaching Assistant
Aalto University, Espoo, Finland
Seven Swedish bachelor’s level physics courses (BSc, á 5 ECTS)
Supervision of academic work
2022
Supervisor
Aalto University, Espoo, Finland
Special Assignment Luukas Myllynen (MSc, 10 ECTS)
2021
Supervisor
Aalto University, Espoo, Finland
Special Assignment, Luukas Myllynen (MSc, 5 ECTS)
2021
Supervisor
Aalto University, Espoo, Finland
Bachelor thesis, Luukas Myllynen (BSc, 10 ECTS)
2018
Supervisor
Aalto University, Espoo, Finland
Special Assignment, Oscar Björklund (MSc, 10 ECTS)
Awards, prizes, and honors
2019
Fulbright-KAUTE Foundation Award
The KAUTE Foundation, Helsinki, Finland
2011
First place
TekNatur Project Competition, Helsinki, Finland
Awarded first place in the natural sciences project competition TekNatur
2011
Awardee
TekNatur National Physics Competition
Won a visit to CERN in the TekNatur national physics competition
Social merits and elected offices
Awards
03/2022
Hederstecken i Silver
Teknologföreningen, Espoo, Finland
03/2017
Förtjänsttecken
Teknologföreningen, Espoo, Finland
Fiduciary duties
2021 - 2022
Board member
Kotitontuntie 6-8 Housing Cooperative, Espoo, Finland
Served two terms as a board member of the housing cooperative board. During the terms a facade refurbishment was planned and executed. I was responsible for investigating installation of EV charging stations and geothermal heating for the properties.
01/2022
Expert evaluator
Fulbright Finland Foundation, Helsinki, Finland
Served as an expert evaluator of Fulbright grant applications
2014 - 2017
Deputy council member
Aalto University Student Union, Espoo, Finland
Two terms (2014-2015 and 2016-2017) served
2009 - 2011
Board member
Vasa Övningsskolas Gymnasium Student Council, Vaasa, Finland
Member (2009-2010) and Secretary (2010-2011) of the Student Council’s Board
Voluntary work
03/2021 - 05/2021
Volunteer
Finnish Red Cross, Espoo, Finland
Assisted at the Coronavirus mass-vaccination in Espoo
2020 - Present
Outreach Ambassador
Fulbright Finland Foundation, Helsinki, Finland
Acted as a Fulbright Outreach Ambassador and a Fulbright Buddy
01/2013 - Present
Official, volunteer
Teknologföreningen, Espoo, Finland
Project manager (workshop, European excursion), several terms on numerous committees
Freshman manager (2014-2015) responsible for freshman integration and several large-scale events
Military service
06/2011 - 06/2012
Sub-lieutenant
Uudenmaan Prikaati, Tammisaari, Finland
Acted as NCO for my peers performing their military service
List of publications
As First Author
A. Holm, et al., UEDGE-CRUMPET predicted isotopologue effect on atomic and molecular emission in DIII-D high-recycling divertor plasmas, Nucl. Mat. Energy, 34 (2023) 101337, doi.org/10.1016/j.nme.2022.101337
A. Holm, D. Wünderlich, M. Groth, P. Börner, Impact of vibrationally resolved H2 on particle balance in Eirene simulations, Contr. Plama Phys., 62 (2022) e202100189, doi.org/10.1002/ctpp.202100189
A. Holm, P. Börner, T.D. Rognlien, and W.H Meyer, M. Groth, Comparison of a collisional-radiative fluid model of H2 in UEDGE to the kinetic neutral code EIRENE, Nucl. Mat. Energy 27 (2021) 100982, doi.org/10.1016/j.nme.2021.100982
A. Holm, T.D. Rognlien, and W.H Meyer, Implementation and assessment of an extended hydrogenic molecular model in UEDGE, Contr. Plasma Phys. 60 (2020) e201900150, doi.org/10.1002/ctpp.201900150
A. Holm, M. Groth, and T.D. Rognlien, UEDGE-predicted impact of molecules on low-field side target detachment in DIII–D, Nucl. Mat. Energy 19 (2019) 143, doi.org/10.1016/j.nme.2019.01.019
A. Holm, M. Groth, and T.D. Rognlien, Assessing ion-electron thermal equilibration in the SOL of tokamaks using UEDGE, Contr. Plasma Phys. 58 (2018) 547, doi.org/10.1002/ctpp.201700152
As Co-Author
R. Chandra et al., Impact of vibrationally and electronically excited H2 on the molecular assisted recombination rate in detached plasma regimes, Nucl. Mat. Energy 34 (2023) 101360, doi.org/10.1016/j.nme.2022.101360
J. Karhunen et al., Spectroscopic camera analysis of the roles of molecularly assisted reaction chains during detachment in JET L-mode plasmas, Nucl. Mat. Energy 34 (2023) 101314, doi.org/10.1016/j.nme.2022.101314
J. Karhunen et al., Experimental distinction of the molecularly induced Balmer emission contribution and its application for inferring molecular divertor density with 2D filtered camera measurements during detachment in JET L-mode plasmas, Plasma Phys. Contr. Fusion 64 (2022) 075001, doi.org/10.1088/1361-6587/ac6ae3
J. Karhunen et al., Inference of molecular divertor density from filtered camera analysis of molecularly induced Balmer line emission during detachment in JET L-mode plasmas, JINST 17 (2022) C01032, doi.org/10.1088/1748-0221/17/01/C01032
C. Samuell et al., Advancements in understanding the 2-D role of impurity radiation for dissipative divertor operation on DIII-D, 28th IAEA Fusion Energy Conference (Proc. Int. Conf. Nice, France, 2021), IAEA, Vienna. 2021.
D. V. Borodin et al., Fluid, kinetic and hybrid approaches for neutral and trace ion edge transport modelling in fusion devices, Nucl. Fusion 62 (2021) 086051, doi.org/10.1088/1741-4326/ac3fe8
J. Slotte, et al., Positron Annihilation Spectroscopy on Open-Volume Defects in Group IV Semiconductors, ECS Trans. 64 (2014) 241, doi.org/10.1149/06411.0241ecst