My name is Raphael Unterrainer, I’m currently working on my PhD in the position of project assistant at the Atominstitut, TU Wien. I started my scientific research on superconductivity early 2019 and plan to finish my PhD ath the end of this year. The focus lies on the experimental investigation of radiation defects on the superconducting properties of REBCO (Rare Earth Barium Copper Oxide) coated conductors. The aim of my work is to gain a better understanding of the influence of defects and defect structures on the physical properties of high temperature superconductors, to allow the development of radiation resistant conductors for fusion and accelerator applications. In the third year of my research I published a letter in SUST on the influence of annealing temperatures on the superconducting properties of radiation damaged coated conductors and the prospects of this technique to increase the expected life time of fusion magnets.

Apart from my research focus I am currently invested in the technical development of my research group, which is necessary to stay on the cutting edge. I do this in cooperation with my colleagues by steadily improving old and designing new measurement techniques and devices. 

Before my PhD studies, I did my master’s degree at the TU Wien starting in 2016 until late 2018. Besides the compulsory courses I was trained and worked at the thin film physics group, where I gained the necessary knowledge about process and measurement control technology, which still helps me today at developing new measuring techniques. In the scope of my work I developed, constructed and tested a high vacuum multi-layer sputter deposition system. My master’s thesis was based on the results I gained by using this device to research the capabilities of latent heat sinks based on aluminum-bismuth multilayers for the application in high power electronics. In these years I worked part time at a start-up on the development of an ultrasonic positioning system for divers to help me fund my studies. This working opportunity taught me much on the topic of signal processing .

Besides my interest in physics, which is mostly satisfied by my field of work, I invest most of my spare time in volunteer work at the mountaineering club Alpenverein Wien. There I am currently co-chair and leader of the alpinist team. This allows me to spend a lot of my leisure climbing, mountaineering and paragliding in the Austrian alps, usually guiding a group of fellow alpinists.