phd thesis kth

Doctoral Theses

A total amount of 38 Doctoral Theses have been defended between the years 2007 and 2019.

David Linder: Towards computational materials design and upscaling of alternative binder cemented carbides. PhD thesis KTH, February 2020.

Mohammadali Asgharzadeh: Strain Gradient Plasticity Modelling of Precipitation Strengthening. PhD thesis KTH, January 2019.

• Thomas Barkar: Modelling phase separation in Fe-Cr alloys: A continuum approach. PhD thesis KTH, October 2018.
• Weisen Zheng, Thermodynamic and kinetic investigation of systems related to lightweight steels, PhD thesis 2018.
• Ye Tian, Martensitic transformation in stainless steel, June 2018.
• Fei Huyan, “Computational Materials Design of Medium Mn Steels”, June 2018
• Lindsay Leach, “Modeling Bainite Formation in Steels”, June 2018
• Hossein Ehteshami, Finite temperature properties of elements and alloy phases from first principles, Doctoral Thesis, Aprill 2018.
• Bigdeli, Sedigheh, Developing the third generation of Calphad databases: what can ab-initio contribute?, October 2017
• Martin Walbrühl, PhD thesis, ICME guided development of cemented carbides with alternative binder systems, KTH, Stockholm, October 2017
• Zhou Li, First step to a genomic CALPHAD database for cemented carbides: C-Co-Cr alloys, KTH, Stockholm, 09 June 2017
• Jiaquing Yin, “Formation of bainite in steels”, 2017, Materials Science and Engineering, KTH
• Taoran Ma, “Powder-metallurgical processing and phase separation in ternary transition metal carbides”, 2017, Materials Science and Engineering, KTH
• Zhou Li, “First step to a genomic CALPHAD database for cemented carbides – C-Co-Cr alloys”, 2017, Materials Science and Engineering, KTH

David Dilner, “Profitability = f(G): Computational Thermodynamics, Materials design and Process Optimization”, 2016, Materials Science and Engineering, KTH

• Oleg Gorbatov, “Theoretical investigation of copper precipitation in steel”, 2015, Materials Science and Engineering, KTH
• Yunguo Li, “Ab initio based modeling of defects and disorder in industrial materials”, 2015, Materials Science and Engineering, KTH
• Bonnie Lindahl, “Thermodynamic investigation of systems related to TWIP steels”, 2015, Materials Science and Engineering, KTH
• Weiwei Sun, “Ab initio study of transition metal carbides and actinide compounds”, 2015, Materials Science and Engineering, KTH
• Erik Olsson, “Micromechanics of powder compaction”, 2015, Solid Mechanics, KTH
• Jing Zhou, “An atom-probe tomography study of phase separation in Fe-Cr based steels, 2014, Materials Science and Engineering, KTH
• Daniel Andersson, “Material characterization of powder materials using inverse modeling”, 2014, Solid Mechanics, KTH
• Abdul Malik Tahir, “Alloy element redistribution during sintering of powder metallurgy steels”, 2014, Mechanics, KTH
• Johan Pilhagen, “The fracture mechanisms in duplex stainless steels at sub-zero temperatures”, 2013, Materials Science and Engineering, KTH*
• Peter Kolmskog, “Does bainite form with or without diffusion? - The experimental and theoretical evidence”, 2013, Materials Science and Engineering, KTH
• Amer Malik, “Phase change with stress effects and flow”, 2013, Mechanics, KTH
• Ida Borgh, “Aspects of Structural Evolution in Cemented Carbide - Carbide Size, Shape and Stability”, 2013, Materials Science and Engineering, KTH
• Albin Stormvinter, “Low Temperature Austenite Decomposition in Carbon Steels”, 2012, Materials Science and Engineering, KTH
• Wei Xiong, “Thermodynamic and Kinetic Investigation of the Fe-Cr-Ni System Driven by Engineering Applications”, 2012, KTH
• Hemantha Kumar Yeddu, “Martensitic Transformations in Steels – A 3D Phase-field Study”, 2012, Materials Science and Engineering, KTH
• Vsevolod I. Razumovskiy, “Thermodynamic and kinetic properties of Fe-Cr and TiC-ZrC alloys from density functional theory”, 2012, Materials Science and Engineering, KTH
• Ansar Masood, “Functional Metallic Glasses”, 2012, Materials Science and Engineering, KTH
• Sandeep Nagar, “Multifunctional magnetic materials prepared by Pulsed Laser Deposition”, 2012, Materials Science and Engineering, KTH*

K. Mannesson, “WC grain growth during sintering of cemented carbides”, Doctoral thesis, KTH, Stockholm, Sweden (2011).

• J. Jeppsson, “Simulation of Phase Transformations and coarsening: Computational tools for alloy development”, Doctoral thesis, KTH, Stockholm, Sweden (2011).
• K. Asp Grönhagen, “Phase-field modeling of surface-energy driven processes”, Doctoral thesis, KTH, Stockholm, Sweden (2010).
• Y. Wu, “Functional Metal Oxide Materials Deposited by Inkjet Printing Technique”, Doctoral thesis, KTH, Stockholm, Sweden (2010).

M. Kapilashrami, “Defect Induced Room Temperature Ferromagnetism in ZnO and MgO Thin Films and Device Development”, Doctoral Thesis, KTH, Stockholm, Sweden (2009).

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Applying for Doctoral Studies

The subject of architecture at doctoral level manages, develops and communicates knowledge of architecture. The subject treats the concepts and theories of architecture and their relationship to planning and design of the built environment. Doctoral studies in architecture at KTH are pursued in three areas of specialization: Architectural design, technology and representation; Architectural theory, history and critical studies; and Urban design and urban theory.

The doctoral education follows a four year study programme, where mandatory and voluntary courses run parallel to the individual thesis work. The subject area plan is here

Most doctoral dissertations are monographs, but compilation thesis (based on articles) also occur amongst other variations.

Pursuing doctoral studies in Sweden is a form of employment, and requires that funding is guaranteed for a minimum of four years. Funding can either be provided through the institution, which in most cases is linked to research grants secured from an external funder, or provided by an external employer – such as a company, a municipality, or a state agency. In this case, studies are usually carried out on a part time basis, thus for 8 years, in parallel to the candidate’s regular employment (so called industrial PhD).

Since June 2018, state-run institutions in Sweden do not enroll students on scholarships, with some exceptions. More information here

The most common way to become a doctoral student at KTH is to apply for a vacant PhD position, announced here . Positions come with their own requirements and procedures, depending on the funding, but always require a Master's Degree in Architecture, or equivalent, in relevant academic fields. The recruitment process is usually very competitive and, in most cases, successful candidates have prior research experience and/or an established independent practice of relevance for the specific position. Students are expected to be able to speak, read and write English at a level corresponding to English B/6 .

Guest PhD students

We are happy to take on guest PhD students from other universities for a period of 3 months, provided their research is of relevance to the department, and allows for a productive mutual exchange. Guest PhD students are offered a working desk in a flexible landscape, and are welcome to take part in seminars and to attend lectures held at KTH. Candidates must establish contact with a member of faculty who is willing to take on the role as host/mentor. He or she is also expected to contribute to the environment by making a research presentation at a seminar. KTH does not provide a computer during the stay, and the candidate is responsible for all personal costs during the period of this appointment.

Doctoral theses

Mahendar, Senthil Krishnan  (2021) "Mitigating Knock in Heavy Duty Spark Ignition Engines", PhD thesis, KTH, TRITA-ITM-AVL ; 2021:17, ISBN: 978-91-7873-850-2. http://www.diva-portal.org/smash/get/diva2:1546956/FULLTEXT01.pdf Karuppasamy, Arun Prasath K (2021) "Particle Characterization in the Exhaust Devices of Direct Injection Engines", PhD thesis, KTH, TRITA-ITM-AVL ; 2021:18, ISBN: 978-91-7873-858-8. https://www.diva-portal.org/smash/get/diva2:1548566/FULLTEXT01.pdf

Majal, G.M.  (2020) Flow dynamics in corrugated pipes: Effect on particle agglomeration (DiVA website)  PhD thesis, KTH Engineering Mechanics, TRITA-SCI-FOU, ISBN: 978-91-7873-646-1.

Zhang, Z . (2019) Optimal damping and slow sound in ducts (DiVA website) .  PhD thesis, KTH Aeronautical and Vehicle Engineering, Stockholm, Sweden.

Winroth, M . (2019) Dynamics of Exhaust Valve Flows and Confined Bluff Body Vortex Shedding (DiVA website) . PhD thesis,KTH Mechanics, Stockholm, Sweden.

Anton, N.  (2019) Engine Optimized Turbine Design (DiVA website) . PhD thesis, KTH Internal Combustion Engines, Stockholm, Sweden. 

Lim, SM.  (2018) Aerothermodynamics and exergy analysis in turbocharger radial turbine (DiVA website) . PhD thesis, KTH Mechanics, Stockholm, Sweden. 

Sundström, E. (2017) Flow instabilities in centrifugal compressors at low mass flow rate (DiVA website) . PhD thesis, KTH Mechanics, Stockholm, Sweden. 

Kerres, B.  (2017) On Stability and Surge in Turbocharger Compressors (DiVA website) . PhD thesis, KTH Machine Design, Stockholm, Sweden.

Kabral, R. (2017) Turbocharger Aeroacoustics and Optimal Damping of Sound (DiVA website) . PhD thesis. KTH The Marcus Wallenberg Laboratory for Sound and VIbration Research, Stockholm, Sweden. 

Hynninen, A. (2015) Acoustic In-duct Characterization of Fluid Machines with Applications to Medium Speed IC-engines (DiVA website) .  PhD thesis, KTH The Marcus Wallenberg Laboratory for Sound and Vibration Research, Stockholm, Sweden. 

Söder, M.  (2015) Creation and destruction of in-cylinder flows: Large eddy simulations of the intake and the compression strokes (DiVA website) PhD thesis, KTH Mechanics, Stockholm, Sweden. 

Zhou, L. (2015) Acoustic characterization of orifices and perforated liners with flow and high-level acoustic excitation (DiVA website) .  PhD thesis, KTH The Marcus Wallenberg Laboratory for Sound and Vibration Research, Stockholm, Sweden. 

Aghaali, H.  (2014) Exhaust Heat Utilisation and Losses in Internal Combustion Engines with Focus on the Gas Exchange System (DiVA website) PhD thesis, KTH Machine Design, Stockholm, Sweden. 

Fjällman, J.  (2014) Large Eddy Simulations of Complex Flows in IC-Engine's Exhaust Manifold and Turbine (DiVA website) . PhD thesis, KTH Mechanics, Stockholm, Sweden. 

Kalpakli Vester, A.  (2014) Vortices in turbulent flows—rocking, rolling and pulsating motions (DiVA website) . PhD thesis, KTH Mechanics, Stockholm, Sweden.

Pastuhoff, M. (2014) Measuring with pressure sensitive paint in time-varying flows (DiVA website) . PhD thesis, KTH Mechanics, Stockholm, Sweden.

Reifarth, S.  (2014) Efficiency and Mixing Analysis of EGR-Systems for Diesel Engines (DiVA website) . PhD thesis, KTH Internal Combustion Engines, Stockholm, Sweden. 

Bodin, O.  (2013) Simulations of compressible flows associated with internal combustion engines (DiVA website) . PhD thesis, KTH Mechanics, Stockholm, Sweden. 

Sakowitz, A.  (2013) Computation and analysis of EGR mixing in Internal Combustion Engines (DiVA website) .  PhD thesis, KTH Mechanics, Stockholm, Sweden.

Wang, Y.  (2013) Numerical Studies of Flow and Associated Losses in the Exhaust Port of a Diesel Engine (DiVA website) .  PhD thesis, KTH Mechanics, Stockholm, Sweden. 

Alenius, E.  (2012) Flow Duct Acoustics: An LES Approach (DiVA website) . PhD thesis, KTH The Marcus Wallenberg Laboratory for Sound and Vibration Research, Stockholm, Sweden.

Laurantzon, F.  (2012) Flow measurements related to gas exchange applications (DiVA website) . PhD thesis, KTH Mechanics, Stockholm, Sweden. 

Westlund, A.  (2011) Simplified models for emission formation in diesel engines during transient operation (DiVA website) . PhD thesis, KTH Internal Combustion Engines, Stockholm, Sweden.

Winkler, N.  (2011). Reduced models for flows in IC-engines (DiVA website) . PhD thesis, KTH Internal Combustion Engines, Stockholm, Sweden.

Hellström, F.  (2010). Numerical computations of the unsteady flow in turbochargers (DiVA website) .  PhD thesis, KTH Mechanics, Stockholm, Sweden.

Karlsson, M.  (2010) Aeroacoustics Studies of Duct Branches with Application to Silencers (DiVA website) . PhD thesis, KTH The Marcus Wallenberg Laboratory for Sound and Vibration Research, Stockholm, Sweden.

Renberg, U.  (2010). Analysis of shortcomings with 1-D engine calculations by means of 3-D computations on components (DiVA website) . PhD thesis, KTH Internal Combustion Engines, Stockholm, Sweden.

Knutsson, M.  (2009) Modelling of IC-engine intake noise (DiVA website) . PhD thesis, KTH The Marcus Wallenberg Laboratory for Sound and Vibration Research, Stockholm, Sweden.

Rämmal, H.  (2009) Studies of flow duct acoustics with applications to turbocharged engines (DiVA website) . PhD thesis, KTH The Marcus Wallenberg Laboratory for Sound and Vibration Research, Stockholm, Sweden.

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PhD Degree Theses 

Fundamental Studies Related to Gaseous Reduction of Iron Oxide

Mania Kazemi Tekn. Doktor (Thesis Dissertation: 2016-09-16)

Department of Materials Science and Engineering, KTH

Study on the Interaction Between Refractory and Liquid Steel Regarding Steel Cleanliness

Zhiyin Deng Tekn. Doktor (Thesis Dissertation: 2016-09-15)

Sulfur and Nitrogen in Ladle Slag

Carl Allertz Tekn. Doktor (Thesis Dissertation: 2016-04-01)

Solubility of Hydrogen in Slags and its Impact on Ladle Refining

Jenny Brandberg Hurtig Tekn. Doktor (Thesis Dissertation: 2015-09-04)

A Study on Desulfurization of Hot Metal Using Different Agents

David Lindström Tekn. Doktor (Thesis Dissertation: 2014-04-25)

Equilibrium and Kinetic Considerations in Refining of Silicon

Jesse F. White Tekn. Doktor (Thesis Dissertation: 2013-11-29)

A Study on the Thermal State of Steelmaking Ladles

Björn Glaser Tekn. Doktor. (Thesis dissertation: 2012-10-26)

Study on the dissolution of lime and dolomite in converter slag

Tengfei Deng Tekn. Doktor. (Thesis dissertation: 2012-09-28)

A study of some aspects of gas-slag-metal interactions - Towards dynamic process model and control

Mattias Ek Tekn. Doktor. (Thesis dissertation: 2012-09-27)

Study on some Phenomena of Slag in Steelmaking Process

 Liushun Wu Tekn. Doktor. (Thesis dissertation: 2011-05-12)

 Department of Materials Science and Engineering, KTH

Some Fundamental Aspects Concerning Secondary Steelmaking

Jimmy Gran Tekn. Doktor. (Thesis dissertation: 2011-04-01)

A Study on the Correlation between Ladle Glaze and Non-Metallic Inclusions in the Ladle Treatment

Minho Song Tekn. Doktor. (Thesis dissertation: 2011-01-28)

Formation of Non-metallic Inclusions and the Possibility of their Removal During Ingot Casting

L. Ragnarsson Tekn. Doktor. (Thesis dissertation: 2010-04-30)

Formation of Inclusions and their Development During Secondary Steelmaking

Mikael Thunman Tekn. Doktor. (Thesis dissertation: 2009-04-24)

Development of Techniques to produce Nickel Coated Composite Materials as well as Hollow Nickel Fibres and Kinetic Study of the Process Involved

Fan Li, Tekn. Doktor. (Thesis dissertation: 2007-09-21)

Some Aspects of Non-metallic Inclusions During Vacuum Degassing in Ladle Treatment-With Emphasize on Liquid CaO-Al2O3 Inclusions

YoungJo Kang, Tekn. Doktor. (Thesis dissertation: 2007-03-07)

A Study on the Population and Chemical Development of Non-Metallic Inclusions in the Tool-Steel Making Process

Nagendra Tripathi, Tekn. Doktor. (Thesis dissertation: 2004-09-17)

Formation and Chemical Development of Non-Metallic Inclusions in Ladle Treatment of Steel

Kristina Beskow, Tekn. Doktor. (Thesis dissertation: 2003-09-26)

Thermodynamic study of multicomponent slags - a model approach

J. Björkvall, Tekn. Doktor (Thesis dissertation: March 2000)

Kinetics of the Reduction of some Transition Metal Oxycompounds by Hydrogen

John Are Bustnes, Tekn. Doktor (Thesis dissertation: 1999-11-26)                              

Department of Metallurgy, KTH

Studies on Viscosities of Some Multicomponent Slags

F-Z. Ji, Tekn. Doktor (Thesis dissertation: 1999-01-28)                            

Licentiate Degree Theses

Mass transfer and slag-metal reaction in ladle refining-a CFD approach 

Eva Ramström, Tekn. Licentiate. (Thesis dissertation: 2010-01-29)

Solubility of Hydrogen in slags and its impact on ladle refining 

Jenny Brandberg, Tekn. Licentiate. (Thesis dissertation: 2006-10-20)

Formation of Oxide-Inclusions by Ladle Glaze and a Preliminary Examination on the Possibility of Inclusion Separation by Bubble Floatation 

Tripathi , Tekn. Licentiate. (Thesis dissertation: 2003-11-14)

Viscosities of Complex Slags and the Impact of the Same on Foaming in EAF

Branka Vidacak, Tekn. Licentiate. (Thesis dissertation: 2001-12-14)

Impact of Aluminium Addition on the Chemistry of Non-Metallic Inclusions in Ladle Treatment

Kristina Beskow, Tekn. Licentiate. (Thesis dissertation: 2001-10-02)

• Chapter Meeting
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• PhD Chapter Meeting – May 30th, 2024

The PhD Chapter board welcomes the members of the PhD Chapter to the Second Chapter Meeting of the operational year 2023/2024, which will take place on 30th of May of 2024  at  17:30 , at the PhD Chapter Hall “T-Centralen” (Drottning Kristinas väg 29). Here you can find the Summon.

Please fill out  this registration form  if would like to attend the meeting. In order to have food, please sign up no later than May 25th, 2024.

The Chapter Meeting will be focused on the Elections and by-elections of the PhD Chapter Board and Functionaries, and eventual motions that are to be voted.

All doctoral students are welcome to join the Chapter Meeting, but note that you must be a PhD Chapter Member (that is, a doctoral student and paid member of  THS , the KTH Student Union) in order to have voting rights during the meeting.  We will send a reminder email to all registered participants.

If you are interested in  nominating yourself  or  someone else to Board or Functionary positions, the nomination form is available here .

For Board positions ( for description click here ), the following positions have mandate January – December 2024 and are open for Elections:

• Chairperson
• Education Manager
• Business Liaison
• Workgroups Manager

The following positions have mandate January 2024 – December 2024 and are now open for by-elections:

• Council Coordinator

Moreover, the following PhD Chapter Functionary positions are open for election or by-election:

• Auditors (2 positions)
• Master of Ceremonies (1 position)

Motions to be presented at the Chapter Meeting may be submitted to  [email protected] until 26th of May 2024 . The meeting agenda  will be posted here  at least four working days before the meeting.

• PhD Chapter Meeting – March 20th, 2024

The PhD Chapter board welcomes the members of the PhD Chapter to the Second Chapter Meeting of the operational year 2023/2024, which will take place on 20th of March 2024  at  17:30 , at T-Centralen (Drottning Kristinas väg 29). Here you can find the Summon.

Please fill out   this registration form  if would like to attend the meeting. In order to have food, please sign up no later than Sunday 17th 2024.

The Chapter Meeting will be focused on the digital elections proceses and the discussion of structural problems that doctoral students have at KTH.

All doctoral students are welcome to join the Chapter Meeting, but note that you must be a PhD Chapter Member (that is, a doctoral student and paid member of  THS , the KTH Student Union) in order to have voting rights during the meeting.  We will send a reminder email to all registered participants.

Motions to be presented at the Chapter Meeting may be submitted to  [email protected]  until 15th of March 2024 . The meeting agenda  will be posted here  at least four working days before the meeting.

• PhD Chapter Meeting – December 4th, 2023

The PhD Chapter board welcomes the members of the PhD Chapter to the Second Chapter Meeting of the operational year 2023/2024, which will take place on 4th of December 2023  at  17:30 , at Room Henrik Eriksson (Lindstedtsvägen 3, 4th floor), or virtually via Zoom ( https://kth-se.zoom.us/j/62006362410 ). Here you can find the Summon.

Please fill out  this registration form  if would like to attend the meeting. In order to have food, please sign up no later than November 30th 2023.

The Chapter Meeting will be focused on the Elections and by-elections of the PhD Chapter Board and Functionaries.

If you are interested in  nominating yourself  or  someone else  to Board or Functionary positions,  please fill in this KTH form  at the latest  19th of November  2023.

• Vice Chairperson
• Event Manager (upon approval of motion)
• Communication Manager

The following positions have mandate July 2023 – June 2024 and are now open for by-elections:

• Business Liaison (upon approval of motion)
• Workgroup Manager
• Head of Women’s Doctoral Committee (WOP)
• Nominating Committee (5 positions)
• Standard Bearers (2 positions)

Motions to be presented at the Chapter Meeting may be submitted to  [email protected]  until 30th of November 2023 . The meeting agenda  will be posted here  at least four working days before the meeting.

• PhD Chapter Meeting – Sep 28th, 2023

The PhD Chapter board welcomes the members of the PhD Chapter to the Fourth Chapter Meeting of the operational year 2023/2024, which will take place on Thursday 28th of September 2023  at  17:30 , at the PhD Chapter Hall, T-Centralen (Drottning Kristinas väg 29). Here you can find the summon and Agenda.

Please fill out this registration form  if would like to attend the meeting. In order to have food, please sign up no later than September 25th 2023, see more info in the registration form.

The Chapter Meeting will be focused on discussions for improvements of doctoral students.

Motions to be presented at the Chapter Meeting may be submitted to  [email protected]  until 25th of September 2023. The meeting agenda  will be posted here  at least four working days before the meeting.

• ABB, NKT, and Hitachi Energy Companies Exclusive Visit 2023

Ph.D. Chapter is proud to organize an exclusive visit to ABB , NKT , and Hitachi Energy Companies in Västerås for a limited number of Ph.D. students on October 6, 2023 full-day (08:00-17:00). We will start our journey toward Västerås from KTH Entre (main campus) at 08:00 and will be back to KTH main campus at 17:00.

Join us for a whole day of interesting presentations and discussions, site and production lines visit, and mingle with these companies’ employees.

ABB is a leading global technology company that energizes the transformation of society and industry to achieve a more productive, sustainable future. By connecting software to its electrification, motion, process automation and robotics & discrete automation portfolio, ABB pushes the boundaries of technology to drive performance to new levels. ABB’s success is based on a long history of technical leadership stretching back more than 130 years and driven forward by around 105,000 skilled employees in more than 100 countries. Corporate Research in Västerås is one of ABB’s largest research center in the world. Here, 100 innovative researchers and engineers of ~25 nationalities work with long-term research and development in ABB’s cutting-edge areas, with an emphasis on robotics, electric motor systems, electrical apparatus and automation technology. The investment in research and development in Sweden is high and a priority area within the ABB Group. This is ABB: Welcome to Progress — ABB Group (global.abb)

NKT connects a greener world with high-quality power cable technology and takes centre stage as the world moves towards green energy. NKT designs, manufactures and installs low-, medium- and high-voltage power cable solutions enabling sustainable energy transmission. Since 1891, NKT has innovated the power cable technology building the infrastructure for the first light bulbs to the megawatts created by renewable energy today. NKT is headquartered in Denmark and employs 3,900 people. NKT is listed on Nasdaq Copenhagen and realised a revenue of EUR 1.8 billion in 2021. This is NKT: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gxblX1lkMJA

Hitachi Energy (HE) is a global technology leader with a combined heritage of almost 250 years, employing around 36000 people in 90 countries. The business serves utility, industry and infrastructure customers across the value chain, and emerging areas like sustainable mobility, smart cities, energy storage and data centers. Innovation is at the heart of Hitachi Energy and our research centers are the backbone. The Hitachi Energy Research center in Sweden is located in Västerås, one hour west of Stockholm. With our wide scientific/technical expertise together with our extensive lab infrastructure we drive innovation for Hitachi Energy next-next products. The center includes an extensive simulation and experimental laboratory infrastructure with 13 labs for a total footprint of 3700m2, providing a full-scale platform for power electronics, multi-physics, high-voltage testing and digital technologies. This is Hitachi Energy: https://youtu.be/X3TFu6wNRFE

This event will be limited to 54 visitors , if you want to join this visit – make sure to RSVP through the following link . 

https://forms.gle/pErr25BchgfVRdhD9

The last day to register your interest to join us is Friday, S eptember 22, 2023 . 

There would be a selection phase after the end of registration. Depending on the number of RSVP registrations, 54 visitors will be selected. After that, final visitors will receive private invitation letters with further information (including a detailed schedule and other relevant information) on their email addresses. Once you receive a formal private invitation letter at your email address, you are more than welcome to join us for this amazing event. Please register for this event only if you can attend it in person, those who are not sure if they can make it should mention this in the registration form.

It is worth mentioning that lunch, fika, and transportation are provided by companies and PhD Chapter. Thus, participants do not need to worry about these issues.

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Jennie Berglund, Fibre and Polymer Technology

Wood hemicelluloses - fundamental insights on biological and technical properties.

Jennie Berglund will be defending her dissertation "Wood Hemicelluloses - Fundamental Insights on Biological and Technical Properties" on 1 February 2019.

What is your dissertation about?

It is about understanding how the structure of wood hemicelluloses influences their properties. Several aspects were considered and properties that are of both biological and technical importance such as interaction with cellulose, flexibility, stability, and solubility.

Does it have any connection to KTH’s sustainability work and the global sustainable development goals?

Yes. Hemicelluloses make up about 30% of wood, a renewable resource that can be used as a raw material replacing fossil based products. However, the hemicellulose fraction in wood has a large potential to be used in a better way. One global sustainability goal is “doing more and better with less” and research that could improve the usage of wood is therefore essential from an environmental perspective.  

How can your results be used in the future?

Understanding the role between structure and properties of hemicelluloses is important for the development of new processes and products. Hopefully, the findings in this work can act as a basis for development of new hemicellulose applications. In addition, this work helps the biological understanding of the role of hemicelluloses in the plant cell wall. 

Two winners when Physics awards the year's best doctoral theses

Mathias Hoppe and Christopher Linderälv are winners of the Department of Physics' annual prize for the best doctoral thesis. The focus of their theses is the obstacles that stand in the way of large-scale fusion energy, respectively how materials can be modified for, for example, applications in quantum technology.

The Department of Physics' Best Thesis Award for the academic year 2022 goes to Dr. Mathias Hoppe , for his thesis entitled "Runaway-electron model development and validation in tokamaks" (supervisor Tünde Fülöp ), and to Christopher Linderälv , for his thesis entitled "Optical properties of point defects in insulators and of transition metal dichalcogenides” (supervisor Paul Erhart ).

The award committee's motivation for the awards is:

“The award committee decided to award this year’s Best PhD Award to two laureates: Dr. Mathias Hoppe and Dr. Christopher Linderälv. Their PhD theses report excellent scientific work in a way that makes science understandable to an audience outside their own research communities.

Dr. Hoppe is awarded for his solid scientific contributions to magnetic confinement fusion and for the pedagogical qualities of his thesis; the committee appreciated how Dr. Hoppe puts his work into the context of his field and introduces the reader to the world of thermonuclear devices in a thesis that is easy to read.

Dr. Linderälv wrote an excellent thesis documenting his prolific work applying first-principle calculations to understand materials properties, yet close to experiments; the committee enjoyed reading his thesis with its impressive visual quality.”

Below, the winners tell us more about the research in their theses, the writing process, and what they are doing now!

Three questions for ... Mathias Hoppe, about his winning doctoral thesis.

What are you investigating in your thesis?

"My thesis revolves around one of the major remaining obstacles that stand in the way of large-scale fusion energy: so-called runaway electrons. These electrons can, among other things, occur if the fusion fuel suddenly cools down sharply and the fusion reactions slow down. The runaway electrons are often difficult to control and if they happen to hit the wall of the fusion reactor, they risk causing major damage to the machine. My contribution to the research has primarily been to develop mathematical models and simulation codes that make it possible to partly predict how the runaway electrons arise, and partly to compare experimental measurements with simulations. The fusion reactors of the future will both have to be much larger than today's fusion experiments and use technologies that have not been tested in reality yet, and since the risks connected to runaway electrons are exponentially much worse in large fusion machines, there is basically no margin to try them out in the machines of the future. Therefore, it is extremely important to have access to well-founded and experimentally validated  mathematical models that can be used to test various safety systems in advance, before the machines are built. That is exactly what my research aimed at."

What was easy and what was difficult during the process of writing the thesis?

"One of the most difficult parts of the thesis has concerned the connection between theory and experiment, namely how sufficiently simple models that simultaneously describe reality can be well formulated. Fusion and plasma physics is a very practical science where the goal is to produce as much energy as possible, and then experiments often lead to advanced technical solutions that can be extremely difficult to describe mathematically. In order to be able to reason theoretically about how the experiments can be improved, it is therefore required that just the right simplifications of the mathematics are made so that the effects of the most relevant physics show up most clearly. Fortunately, there are many very smart people working on fusion, and most are more than happy to share their ideas and experiences. So even though the questions I was faced with were often very clever, there were other researchers around, both in Sweden and the rest of the world, who were open to discussion and made it possible for me to piece by piece put together the puzzle that eventually became my thesis."

What are you doing now?

"My first stop after the defense was as a postdoc at one of Europe's largest fusion laboratories, namely the Swiss Plasma Center at the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne in Switzerland. Here I am able to apply the knowledge I have gathered during my doctoral studies and the tools I have developed to study the lab's own fusion experiments in detail. Mainly, I work with interpreting experimental results using computer simulations, and try to be as good a discussion partner as possible to other researchers who also work with runaway electrons. From April 1, however, I will return to Sweden, but this time to Stockholm and KTH in the role of Assistant Professor in fusion plasma physics. My research will likely continue on roughly the same track as before, but now I also get the chance to take greater responsibility for students in the role of teacher and supervisor. Because if there is something that really brightened my time as a doctoral student, it has been the interaction with all the fantastic bachelor's and master's students that I had the privilege of supervising!"

Read Mathias Hoppe's thesis: Runaway-electron model development and validation in tokamaks

Three questions for ... Christopher Linderälv, about his winning doctoral thesis.

"My thesis is about material physics on an atomic scale, where I have carried out theoretical studies on electrons, atoms and their interaction. I have studied a variety of materials but what has been a common denominator is how to modify these materials to obtain desired properties. One of the main tracks in my research has been how defects, i.e. irregularities in a crystal, affect the optical properties of different materials. Some defects have applications in, among other things, quantum technology. While some defects are well researched, the vast majority are not and here I think my research has been able to clear up some question marks."

"The most difficult thing for me in writing the thesis was to put together a coherent story from so many years of research. It wasn't until the last few years that I started to see how it all came together. I put a lot of effort into the introduction to clarify the question and to explain how the parts of the thesis hold together."

"I am now at the University of Oslo, where I am researching similar things as during my doctoral studies at Chalmers, but with slightly different approaches and methods."

Read Christopher Linderälv's thesis: Optical properties of point defects in insulators and of transition metal dichalcogenides

About the Best Thesis Award

• The Best Thesis Award was founded in 2013, as one among several initiatives at the Department of Physics, to maintain and improve the research quality, as well as to show appreciation for the PhD students' hard work. The management of the department also hopes that this award can help doctoral students receive an extra boost in their careers after the defence. These particular theses can serve as good examples for doctoral students in the early stages of their own thesis writing. Besides the honour, the award consists of a diploma and a monetary prize of SEK 10.000.
• Members of the Best PhD Thesis Award Committee: Dinko Chakarov , Hana Jungová , Philippe Tassin (chair), Paolo Vinai and Julia Wiktor .